Щоденник незначної особи

           Willie,inamannerwhichIdidnotmuchcarefor,saidsneeringly:“Oh,Iknowallaboutthat—GoodoldBill!”andhelpedhimselftoathirdglassofport.

           Carrieobjectedstronglytomysaying“Goodold,”butshemadenoremarkwhenWillieusedthedoubleadjective.Isaidnothing,butlookedather,whichmeantmore.Isaid:“MydearWillie,IhopeyouarehappywithyourcolleaguesattheBank.”Hereplied:“Lupin,ifyouplease;andwithrespecttotheBank,there’snotaclerkwhoisagentleman,andthe‘boss’isacad.”Ifeltsoshocked,Icouldsaynothing,andmyinstincttoldmetherewassomethingwrong.

           August6,BankHoliday.—AstherewasnosignofLupinmovingatnineo’clock,Iknockedathisdoor,andsaidweusuallybreakfastedathalf-pasteight,andaskedhowlongwouldhebe?Lupinrepliedthathehadhadalivelytimeofit,firstwiththetrainshakingthehouseallnight,andthenwiththesunstreaminginthroughthewindowinhiseyes,andgivinghimacrackingheadache.Carriecameupandaskedifhewouldlikesomebreakfastsentup,andhesaidhecoulddowithacupoftea,anddidn’twantanythingtoeat.

           Lupinnothavingcomedown,Iwentupagainathalf-pastone,andsaidwedinedattwo;hesaidhe“wouldbethere.”Henevercamedowntillaquartertothree.Isaid:“Wehavenotseenmuchofyou,andyouwillhavetoreturnbythe5.30train;thereforeyouwillhavetoleaveinanhour,unlessyougobythemidnightmail.”Hesaid:“Lookhere,Guv’nor,it’snousebeatingaboutthebush.