We were ushered into the house very quickly, but not so quickly but that our host, a white-haired man with a fiery face, came out quickly to meet us.
"My dear fellow," he cried, shaking Basil's hand again and again, "I have not seen you for years.

Have you been--er--" he said, rather wildly, "have you been in the country ?" "Not for all that time," answered Basil, smiling.

"I have long given up my official position, my dear Philip, and have been living in a deliberate retirement.

I hope I do not come at an inopportune moment." "An inopportune moment," cried the ardent gentleman.

"You come at the most opportune moment I could imagine.