“No, no, major,” urged the junior partner.  “I tell you it is a matter of the greatest importance to both of us.  Can you meet me at Nelson’s Cafe at four o’clock?  I know the manager, and he’ll let us have a private room.”

“I’d ask you round to me own little place,” the major said, “but it’s rather too far.  Nelson’s at four.  Right you are!  ’Punctuality is next to godliness,’ as ould Willoughby of the Buffs used to say.  You didn’t know Willoughby, eh?  Gad, he was second to a man at Gib in ’47.  He brought his man on the ground, but the opponents didn’t turn up.  Two minutes after time Willoughby wanted his man to leave.  ’Teach ’em punctuality,’ he said.  ‘Can’t be done,’ said his man. ’Must be done,’ said Willoughby.  ‘Out of the question,’ said the man, and wouldn’t budge.  Willoughby persisted; there were high words and a quarrel.  The docther put ’em up at fifteen paces, and the man shot Willoughby through the calf of the leg.  He was a martyr to punctuality.  Four o’clock-bye, bye!” The major nodded pleasantly and swaggered away, flourishing his little cane jauntily in the air.

In spite of his admiration of punctuality, as exemplified in the person of Willoughby of the Buffs, the major took good care to arrive at the trysting-place somewhat behind the appointed time.  It was clear to him that some service or other was expected of him, and it was obviously his game therefore to hang back and not appear to be too eager to enter into young Girdlestone’s views.  When he presented himself at the entrance of Nelson’s Cafe the young merchant had been fuming and chafing in the sitting-room for five and twenty minutes.

It was a dingy apartment, with a single large horse-hair chair and half a dozen small wooden dittoes, placed with mathematical precision along the walls.  A square table in the centre and a shabby mirror over the mantelpiece completed the furniture.  With the instinct of an old campaigner the major immediately dropped into the arm-chair, and, leaning luxuriously back, took a cigar from his case and proceeded to light it.  Ezra Girdlestone seated himself near the table and twisted his dark moustache, as was his habit when collecting himself.

“What will you drink?” he asked,

“Anything that’s going.”

“Fetch in a decanter of brandy and some seltzer water,” said Ezra to the waiter; “then shut the door and leave us entirely to ourselves.”

When the liquor was placed upon the table he drank off his first glass at a gulp, and then refilled it.  The major placed his upon the mantelpiece beside him without tasting it.  Both were endeavouring to be at their best and clearest in the coming interview, and each set about it in his own manner.

“I’ll tell you why I wanted to have a chat with you, major,” Ezra said, having first opened the door suddenly and glanced out as a precaution against eavesdroppers.  “I have to be cautious, because what I have to say affects the interest of the firm.  I wouldn’t for the world have any one know about it except yourself.”