I heard him unlock his desk and roll back
the lid. There was a quiet for a moment.
"Dick!" he called. "Hi, Dick! Well, I'm hanged!"
Evidently he had discovered my cable.
"Dick isn't in," said I, crossing the threshold.
In a moment our hands were welded together, and we were gazing into
each other's eyes.
"You old reprobate!" I cried; "not to have met me at the station, even."
"Bless my soul, Jack, this cable was the first intimation that you were
within 3,000 miles of London. But it does my heart good to see you!"
pumping my hand again. "Come out to dinner with me. Now don't begin
to talk till we've had something to eat; I'm almost famished. I know
all the questions you want to ask, but not now. There's a Bohemian
joint a block above that'll do your heart good to see. We'll have
chops and ale, just like we did in the old days, the green and salad
days, I would they were back again"--soberly. "Oh, I've a long story
to tell you, my son; time enough when we get to my rooms; but not a
word of it now--not a word. It will all be forgotten in ten minutes
with you.
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