‘It is I, dear. I wish to speak to you for a moment.’ The girl unlocked the door and left it partly open. He waited for a moment and then half entered the room. ‘I am just starting for home,’ he said. ‘And in an hour the carriage will be here to bring you away. Pray be ready for it.’ She answered ‘Yes,’ and her father walked downstairs and into the hall. He was searching for his hat and overcoat when Jervase lurched out of the parlour. His bloodshot eyes and staggering gait showed in what fashion he had passed the night. ‘You’re off?’ he said, thickly. ‘Won’t you have some breakfast?’ ‘No,’ said the General. ‘Go back to your bottle.’ ‘Look here,’ said Jervase, ‘I shall put this all right. I’ve had the night to think it over, and I shall effect a compromise. D’ye see? I shall effect a compromise. It won’t cost you a penny, and it won’t break me. I shall have a sleep by and by, and then I shall go and see Stubbs, and effect a compromise. I hope you don’t bear malice, General? You’ll shake hands before you go, won’t you?’ ‘No,’ said the General. ‘Go back to--your bottle.’ ‘But I say,’ Jervase proceeded, with a drunken tenacity, ‘you ain’t going to bear malice, are you, General?’ ‘Stand out of my way, you drunken beast!’ the General responded, ‘or I’ll do you a mischief.’ ‘Oh, if that’s the way you’re going to take it, all right,’ said Jervase. ‘James and me are going to stand the racket--it won’t hurt you either in credit or in pocket, and I don’t see what you’ve got to be shirty about. It wasn’t exactly what you might call a legirrimate transaction, but there are lots of things in business that are not legirrimate. See ‘em done every day--see ‘em done by respec’able people.’ Boswell by this time had found his hat and overcoat, and was prepared to go. He turned his back upon his host and re-ascended the stairs and knocked a second time at Irene’s door. ‘Is that you, Papa?’ ‘Yes, it is I. Can you hear me?’ ‘Oh, yes, distinctly.’ ‘I shall return for you. Keep your door locked until I come. Jervase has been drinking and he may annoy you.’ With that, he walked back to the hall, where Jervase, holding on by the handle of the door, was solemnly swaying to and fro. ‘I shall regret,’ said Boswell, ‘to be forced to use violence: but if you do not instantly free me of your very disagreeable presence I shall be compelled to do you damage. Stand on one side, I tell you. Go!’