‘On the contrary, the dealer knocked off his commission.’ ‘Dealer?’ ‘Yes—I bought them at a cigar shop.’ ‘That reminds me. We shall have to get up pretty early, and so there should be no packing to do. Your umbrella, your rubbers, your cigars——What is the matter?’ ‘Hang it! I’ve left the cigars at the bank.’ ‘Just think of it! Well, your umbrella?’ ‘I’ll have that all right. There’s no hurry.’ ‘What do you mean by that?’ ‘Oh, that’s all right; I’ll take care of——’ ‘Where is that umbrella?’ ‘It’s just the merest step—it won’t take me——’ ‘Where is it?’ ‘Well, I think I left it at the cigar shop; but any way——’ ‘Take your feet out from under that thing. It’s just as I expected! Where are your rubbers?’ ‘They—well——’ ‘Where are your rubbers?’ ‘It’s got so dry now—well, everybody says there’s not going to be another drop of——’ ‘Where—are—your—rubbers?’ ‘Well, you see—well, it was this way. First, the officer said——’ ‘What officer?’ ‘Police officer; but the Mayor, he——’ ‘What Mayor?’ ‘Mayor of Geneva; but I said——’ ‘Wait. What is the matter with you?’ ‘Who, me? Nothing. They both tried to persuade me to stay, and——’ ‘Stay where?’ ‘Well—the fact is——’ ‘Where have you been? What’s kept you out till half past ten at night?’ ‘Oh, you see, after I lost my letter of credit, I——’ ‘You are beating around the bush a good deal. Now, answer the question in just one straightforward word. Where are those rubbers?’ ‘They—well, they’re in the county jail.’ I started a placating smile, but it petrified. The climate was unsuitable. Spending three or four hours in jail did not seem to the Expedition humorous. Neither did it to me, at bottom. I had to explain the whole thing, and of course it came out then that we couldn’t take the early train, because that would leave my letter of credit in hock still. It did look as if we had all got to go to bed estranged and unhappy, but by good luck that was prevented. There happened to be mention of the trunks, and I was able to say I had attended to that feature. ‘There, you are just as good and thoughtful and painstaking and intelligent as you can be, and it’s a shame to find so much fault with you, and there shan’t be another word of it! You’ve done beautifully, admirably, and I’m sorry I ever said one ungrateful word to you.’ This hit deeper than some of the other things, and made me uncomfortable, because I wasn’t feeling as solid about that trunk errand as I wanted to. There seemed, somehow, to be a defect about it somewhere, though I couldn’t put my finger on it, and didn’t like to stir the matter just now, it being late and maybe well enough to let well enough alone. Of course there was music in the morning, when it was found that we couldn’t leave by the early train. But I had no time to wait; I got only the opening bars of the overture, and then started out to get my letter of credit.