So I (I am allowing myself the man and Sir George Coverham the novelist gradually to reunite, as they gradually reunited that evening)--I, his friend, had already done what we all do when we are completely bowled over. I had instinctively sought refuge from his lunatic announcement in trifles--any trifle that lay nearest to hand. Suddenly I found myself wondering why he was afraid to take a drink, and why I had had to draw his curtains lest the sound of the buses and taxis should call him out into the streets.
But presently he had recovered a little. He was even able to look at me with the faint shadow of a smile.
"Well, that's the lot," he said. "I've given you the whole thing in a nutshell. You heard that lecture and you know me. You can fill in the rest for yourself."
Suddenly I looked at my watch. It was not yet half-past nine. I got on to my feet.
"You'd better get your hat and come down to Haslemere with me," I said. "We can catch the ten-ten. You're all on edge about something and you want a change. Leave word here that you'll be back in a week, and come along."
But he did not move, except to shake his head.
"I expected you'd say that. It's what anybody would say. It simply means that you haven't taken it in yet. No, since we've started we'll go on--unless you'd rather not. I warn you there's a good deal to be said for not going on."
"Why not talk about it down at Haslemere?"
Once more there was the hint of irascibility.
Slowly I sat down again, and he resumed his former attitude of cracking nuts with his palms for nutcrackers.
"There's not an atom of doubt about what I'm going to tell you," he began. "Not an atom. Unless I'm mistaken you saw for yourself this afternoon--though of course you didn't know what you were seeing. You simply thought I looked younger, didn't you?"
"And I fancy my manner got a bit on your nerves--does a bit now for that matter?"
"Well, let's start from that point. You said I looked thirty-five. Well, it's just that that's getting on your nerves--the less amiable side of my character when I was thirty-five, and--and--well, when you go you might take that bottle of whisky with you and make me sign the pledge or something. I'm trying--I'm honestly trying--to hang on, you see."