But I have one of his cards with me, and if you insist on everything being done in the most accurate and correct possible manner, I'll leave it on the umbrella stand in your hall as I go out." Meldon had provided himself with a few of the Major's visiting cards before leaving Portsmouth Lodge in the morning.

He was a man who prided himself on leaving nothing to chance.

Since it was just possible that the cards might turn out to be useful, he had put a few in his pocket.
"In fact," he went on, "to prevent any possible mistake or misunderstanding I may as well hand it over to you at once." He produced a card, slightly crumpled and a good deal soiled, from his waistcoat pocket, and laid it on Simpkins' knee.

Simpkins looked at it doubtfully, took it up in his hand, and examined both sides of it.
Then he spoke slowly.
"I think you know," he said; "in fact, I've told you myself, that the Major and I aren't on very good terms.

I was obliged to speak to him rather strongly about the way he used to fish in a part of the river--" "I know all about that; you needn't go into it again.