CHAPTER VII THE BEVAN TEMPER On a fine morning, two days after Miss Lambert's visit to Mr Hancock, Mr Bevan entered his sitting-room in the "Albany" dressed for going out. He wore a tea rose in his buttonhole, and Strutt, who followed his master, bore in his hands a glossy silk hat far more carefully than if it had been a baby. A most comfortably furnished and tastefully upholstered room was this in which Charles Bevan smoked his one cigar and drank his one whisky and seltzer before retiring to bed each night; everything spoke of an orderly and well-regulated mind; of books there were few in bindings sedate as their subject matter, and they had the air of prisoners rarely released from the narrow cases that contained them. On the walls hung a series of Gillray's engravings depicting "the flagitious absurdities of the French during their occupation of Egypt." On the table reposed the _Field_, the _Times_, and the _Spectator_ (uncut). "But what the deuce can he _want_?" said Charles, who was holding an open letter in his hand. It was a letter from the family lawyer asking his attendance in Southampton Row at his earliest convenience. "Maybe," said Strutt, blowing away a speck of dust that had dared to settle on the hat, "Maybe, sir, it's about the lawsuit." Bevan put the letter in his pocket, took his hat and stick from the faithful Strutt and departed. He made for "Brooks'." Mr Bevan patronised "Brooks'" and the "Reform." In the deserted smoking-room of "Brooks'" he sat down to write some letters, and here followeth the correspondence of a modern Chesterfield. "TO J. HOLDSWORTH, HAY STREET, PIMLICO. "Sir,--The thing you sent for my inspection yesterday is no use. I'm not anxious to buy camels. Please do not trouble any more in the matter. I wasted half an hour over this yesterday and my time is valuable if the time of your groom is not.--Yours truly, "C. M. BEVAN." "TO MRS NEURAPATH, Secretary to Neurapath's Home for Lost and Starving Cats, BERMONDSEY. "Madam,--In answer to your third demand for a contribution to your funds, I write to tell you that it is my fixed rule never to contribute to private charities.--Yours, etc., "C. M. BEVAN." "TO MESSRS TEITZ; Breeches Makers, OXFORD STREET. "Sir,--Please send your foreman to see me in the 'Albany' to-morrow at ten A.M. The breeches don't fit.--Yours, etc., "C. M. BEVAN." "TO MISS PAMELA PURSEHOUSE, THE ROOST, ROOKHURST, KENT.