Just now he looked a little worried, like a fish out of water, or rather a fish which has begun to suspect the quality of the water, something in its smell or taste.
"Jeffreys tells me that you want to see me, Sir Robert," he said in his low and pleasant voice, looking at the baronet rather anxiously.
"Yes, my dear Vernon, I wish to ask you to do something, if you kindly will, although it is not quite in your line.

Old Jackson, the editor of _The Judge_, is a friend of yours, isn't he ?" "He was a friend of my father's, and I used to know him slightly." "Well, that's near enough.

As I daresay you have heard, he is an unreasonable old beggar, and has taken a dislike to our Sahara scheme.
Someone has set him against it and he refuses to receive advertisements, threatens criticisms, etc.

Now the opposition of _The Judge_ or any other paper won't kill us, and if necessary we can fight, but at the same time it is always wise to agree with your enemy while he is in the way, and in short--would you mind going down and explaining his mistake to him ?" Before answering Major Vernon walked to the window leisurely and looked out.
"I don't like asking favours from family friends," he replied at length, "and, as you said, I think it isn't quite my line.

Though of course if it has anything to do with the engineering possibilities, I shall be most happy to see him," he added, brightening.
"I don't know what it has to do with; that is what I shall be obliged if you will find out," answered Sir Robert with some asperity.