Here, Todd"-- and he picked up the gun--"put it back behind the door." Gadgem felt in his inside pocket, produced and consulted a memorandum with the air of a man who wanted to be entirely sure, and in a bland voice said: "I should think at your time of life--if you will permit me, sir--that one less gun would not seriously inconvenience you.

Would you permit me, sir, to hope that--" St.George looked up from his plate and a peculiar expression flitted across his face.
"You mean you want to buy it ?" The bill collector made a little movement forward and scrutinized St.
George's face with the eye of a hawk.

For a man of Temple's kidney to be without a fowling piece was like a king being without a crown.

This was the crucial moment.

Gadgem knew Temple's class, and knew just how delicately he must be handled.