"When did you come up ?" "Three hours ago." ("He looks innocent," said Jewdwine to himself.) "Then you weren't prepared for that ?" Jewdwine followed his fascinated gaze.

He smiled faintly.
"You haven't noticed our new departure?
We not only purchase Gentlemen's Libraries, but we sell the works of persons who may or may not be gentlemen." Jewdwine felt profoundly uncomfortable.

Rickman's face preserved its inimitable innocence, but he continued to stare fixedly before him.
"Poor fellow," thought Jewdwine, "he must have heard those imbecilities." He felt horribly responsible, responsible to the Club for the behaviour of Rickman and responsible to Rickman for the behaviour of the Club.

What could he do to make it up to him?
Happy thought--he would ask him to dinner at--yes, at his sister's, Miss Jewdwine's, house at Hampstead.

That was to say, if his cousin, Lucia Harden, did not happen to be staying there.