[_Rising and attempting to pacify him._] Now, Anthony, there's nothing to work yourself up into a state for, at present. Do for goodness' sake wait till you hear all about it!
[_Resentfully._] It seems I shall _have_ to wait, Sophia--but I'm tired of waiting _here_. [_He goes to get his hat and stick._] And evidently he doesn't intend to----
[_Turns, as the door opens and HORACE VENTIMORE comes in briskly. HORACE is a pleasant-looking young man, with a cheery and rather boyish manner; he comes down and greets the FUTVOYES without seeing PRINGLE for the moment; SYLVIA has risen, delighted at his arrival._
I _say_! This is jolly! [_Shaking hands._] Wish I'd known you were coming on here after the lecture. [_PRINGLE rises, and waits stiffly for recognition._] Warm work, wasn't it, Professor, lecturing on an afternoon like this? Do sit down. [_Looks at table._] Haven't they given you any tea?
[_Irritably._] No, no, no. We want no tea. It's too late for tea. We merely looked in on our way home to----
[_Sees PRINGLE._] And Pringle, too! [_Pats him on shoulder._] How are you, old fellow? You been at the lecture, too?
[_With implied rebuke._] No, I've only just come round--as you weren't at the office,--to----
I've been engaged all day. Oh, by the bye, do you know Professor and Mrs.----
[_Stiffly._] I am happy to say, my dear fellow, that I require no introduction. We are old friends.
[_Impatiently._] To come to the point, Ventimore, as we are rather pressed for time--about the sale? How did you get on, eh?
Oh, ah--the sale. [_Producing catalogue from pocket._] Well, I did exactly as you told me.
[_Snatching catalogue from him._] Yes, yes. Let's go through it lot by lot. Lot 23, now. Did you get that?
[_Annoyed._] Tssch! Well,--so long as you secured Lot 35. [_Reading from catalogue._] "Copper bowl, engraved round rim with verse from Hafiz," you know. Come, you didn't miss _that_?
I did, though. It was snapped up by a sportsman in the very worst hat I ever saw in my life. He got it for sixteen guineas.
[_Disgusted._] What? A rare example of early Persian work like that going for only sixteen guineas! I'd willingly have paid double the money!
But your limit was seven pound ten, sir! And you warned me not to exceed it.