[_Taking chair behind table._] A busy man like _you_, my dear Pringle, has no need to make excuses.
[_Fetching a chair for himself._] I really have been fearfully overworked. Not that I complain of _that_! [_As he sits down between the PROFESSOR and SYLVIA._] I'd no idea we should meet _here_, though. Is Ventimore a friend of yours?
Oh, we know him, yes. As _you_ do, it seems.
I sublet a room in my offices to him. Rather a good arrangement for him, because he gets experience by looking after any little matters that I've no time to attend to.
[_With suppressed resentment._] And isn't that rather a good arrangement for _you_?
It works fairly well--as a rule. But when I returned from the country this afternoon I found he hadn't been near the office all day!
[_He rises, takes SYLVIA'S parasol officiously, and places it in a corner, then returns._
[_To his wife, but speaking at SYLVIA._] Not been near the office all day! I _thought_ as much!
The reason _why_ he wasn't able to help you, Mr. Pringle, is because he's been at an auction, bidding for things on father's account.
I should have attended the sale myself but for an engagement to lecture at the Hieroglyphical on a recently inscribed cylinder.
And--you'll hardly believe it, Mr. Pringle,--but, the moment the lecture was over, he hurried us off here to find out what Mr. Ventimore had got for him! It's really too ridiculous! As if his study wasn't littered up quite enough already!
Women, my dear Pringle, can't understand the feelings of a collector. It's not _every_ day, I can tell you, that a collection of such importance comes into the market.
I didn't know Ventimore was an expert in such things. I thought you could get brokers to bid for you.
Of course--of course. But I don't trust brokers--they know too much! And, as I gave Ventimore my own catalogue, with a tick against the lots I want and the limit I'm prepared to go, noted on the margin, he _can't_ make any mistake.
I suppose not. That is, if he's _accustomed_ to auctions.
Only that if you _aren't_, there's always a liability to lose your head in the excitement, and go beyond the margin. But I daresay Ventimore wouldn't do _that_.
If he _has_! [_He rises excitedly._] And he might--he _might_! With his recklessness about money, it's the very thing he _would_ do! Letting me in for prices I can't afford! [_Passionately._] No wonder he is in no hurry to show himself--no wonder!