He was a short, podgy man, with black curly hair, a rounded nose, and bright eyes. His moustache and imperial did not conceal the extraordinary firmness of his mouth and jaw. He rose as his visitor entered. He was, as usual, attired in a frock-coat and grey trousers. Once he had been in flannels when an emergency had arisen demanding City attire, which was not immediately forthcoming. Mr. Meyer had lost an opportunity in life through carelessness. Therefore on land he ever afterwards wore a frock-coat, except when in evening dress or pyjamas. The occasion should never again find him wanting. "You wished to see me on business?" he asked. "What is it?" His visitor, who was cast in a finer, less decided mould--a good-looking, clean-shaven man of something over thirty--replied: "I came to ask for permission to photograph the inside of your place." "You are not from Mr. Holzmann, den?" said Meyer, curtly. "No." "You said your business was imbortant." "So it is--to myself." Meyer looked sharply at him. "Why do you want to photokraph my place?" "For insertion in a magazine." "Which makkazine?" "Any that will take the article--I am not proud. It is important that I should make some money. I have seen many interesting reproductions of interiors of the stately homes of England in the periodicals, but never one of your house. Hence my appearance. I hope I may have your permission." "Why should I krant you bermission?" said Meyer. "I live here in solitude. I do not bring visitors. I do not want dem. Your intrusion is imbertinent." His visitor flushed. "Sorry if I have annoyed you," he said; "but it did not seem such a great favour to ask. Most people are glad to have pictures of themselves and their houses in the papers." "Most people are fools, as Dommas Carlyle said. Have you a family?" "I am not married." "Dere is no excuse for a sinkle man taking pictures of people's interiors. It is not de work for a man like you. I shall not encourage such tomfoolery. No, I do not give you bermission. But stay. Dere is an orkit from de mittle of Africa of which I should like to have a picture--de _Cypripedium Meyeri_--a new species which I have had de satisfaction to detect. Berhaps you would be kind enough to photokraph it for me, and your journey would not be altokedder lost. Come along. What is your name, please?" His visitor handed him a card on which was printed "John Lucas, 140, Brixton Gardens, London, W." "You have come a long way," Mr. Meyer observed. "A very long way, sir. Perhaps you wouldn't mind letting me look round your house, even if I may not photograph it. I am interested in domestic architecture and--er--curios." Mr. Meyer looked intently at his visitor. "Yes, Mr. Lucas," he said slowly, "I will also show you round my house, since you have come so far, and are interested in domestic architecture and curios. I have blenty of both. Den we will photokraph de orkit."