"Have a whisky-and-soda, old chap?
What, no?
'Never drink between meals ?' Well, you DO surprise me! I suppose that comes of being a sawbones, don't it ?" "Possibly," I answered.

"We respect our livers." Then I went on to the ostensible reason of my visit--the Charterhouse testimonial.

He slapped his thighs metaphorically, by way of suggesting the depleted condition of his pockets.

"Stony broke, Cumberledge," he murmured; "stony broke! Honour bright! Unless Bluebird pulls off the Prince of Wales's Stakes, I really don't know how I'm to pay the Benchers." "It's quite unimportant," I answered.

"I was asked to ask you, and I HAVE asked you." "So I twig, my dear fellow.