The door was opened promptly by the master.
"Oh, it's you, is it ?" he said shortly.

"Come in." Uncle Ben entered without noticing the somewhat ungracious form of invitation.

"It war me," he said, "dropped in, not finding ye downstairs.

Let's have a drink." The master gazed at Uncle Ben, who, owing to his abstraction, had not yet wiped his mouth of the liquor he had imperfectly swallowed, and was in consequence more redolent of whiskey than a confirmed toper.

He rang the bell for the desired refreshment with a slightly cynical smile.