"He wouldn't have anything to do with the house." "Has any one been letting on to him about it, do you think ?" "I don't think so," Burton replied.

"I don't think any one else has mentioned it to him at all.

He seems to be a complete stranger here." "Couldn't have been quite at your best, could you, Mr.Burton, sir?
Not your usual bright and eloquent self, eh ?" The boy grinned and then ducked, expecting a missile.

None came, however.

Alfred Burton was in a very puzzled state of mind, and he neither showed nor indeed felt any resentment.