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had been doing William a service。 To some slight extent I may have
intentionally helped him to retain his place in the club； and I now
see the reason； which was that he alone knows precisely to what extent
I like my claret heated。
For a mere second I remembered William's remark that he should not be
able to see the girl Jenny from the library windows。 Then this
recollection drove from my head that I had only dined in the sense
that my dinner…bill was paid。 Returning to the dining…room； I happened
to take my chair at the window； and while I was eating a deviled
kidney I saw in the street the girl whose nods had such an absurd
effect on William。
The children of the poor are as thoughtless as their parents； and this
Jenny did not sign to the windows in the hope that William might see
her； though she could not see him。 Her face； which was disgracefully
dirty； bore doubt and dismay on it； but whether she brought good news
it would not tell。 Somehow I had expected her to signal when she saw
me； and； though her message could not interest me； I was in the mood
in which one is irritated at that not taking place which he is
awaiting。 Ultimately she seemed to be making up her mind to go away。
A boy was passing with the evening papers； and I hurried out to get
one； rather thoughtlessly； for we have all the papers in the club。
Unfortunately； I misunderstood the direction the boy had taken； but
round the first corner （out of sight of the club windows） I saw the
girl Jenny； and so asked her how William's wife was。
〃Did he send you to me？〃 she replied； impertinently taking me for a
waiter。 〃My！〃 she added； after a second scrutiny； 〃I b'lieve you're
one of them。 His missis is a bit better； and I was to tell him as she
took all the tapiocar。〃
〃How could you tell him？〃 I asked。
〃I was to do like this；〃 she replied； and went through the supping of
something out of a plate in dumb…show。
〃That would not show she ate all the tapioca；〃 I said。
〃But I was to end like this；〃 she answered； licking an imaginary plate
with her tongue。
I gave her a shilling （to get rid of her）； and returned to the club
disgusted。
Later in the evening I had to go to the club library for a book； and
while William was looking in vain for it （I had forgotten the title） I
said to him：
〃By the way； William； Mr。 Myddleton Finch is to tell the committee
that he was mistaken in the charge he brought against you； so you will
doubtless be restored to the dining…room to…morrow。〃
The two members were still in their chairs； probably sleeping lightly；
yet he had the effrontery to thank me。
〃Don't thank me；〃 I said； blushing at the imputation。 〃Remember your
place； William！〃
〃But Mr。 Myddleton Finch knew I swore；〃 he insisted。
〃A gentleman；〃 I replied； stiffly； 〃cannot remember for twenty…four
hours what a waiter has said to him。〃
〃No； sir； but〃
To stop him I had to say： 〃And； ah； William； your wife is a little
better。 She has eaten the tapiocaall of it。〃
〃How can your know； sir？〃
〃By an accident。〃
〃Jenny signed to the window？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then you saw her； and went out； and〃
〃Nonsense！〃
〃Oh； sir； to do that for me！ May God bl〃
〃William！〃
〃Forgive me； sir； butwhen I tell my missis； she will say it was
thought of your own wife as made you do it。〃
He wrung my hand。 I dared not withdraw it； lest we should waken the
sleepers。
William returned to the dining…room； and I had to show him that if he
did not cease looking gratefully at me I must change my waiter。 I also
ordered him to stop telling me nightly how his wife was； but I
continued to know； as I could not help seeing the girl Jenny from the
window。 Twice in a week I learned from this objectionable child that
the ailing woman had again eaten all the tapioca。 Then I became
suspicious of William。 I will tell why。
It began with a remark of Captain Upjohn's。 We had been speaking of
the inconvenience of not being able to get a hot dish served after 1
A。M。； and he said：
〃It is because these lazy waiters would strike。 If the beggars had a
love of their work they would not rush away from the club the moment
one o'clock strikes。 That glum fellow who often waits on you takes to
his heels the moment he is clear of the club steps。 He ran into me the
other night at the top of the street； and was off without
apologising。〃
〃You mean the foot of the street； Upjohn；〃 I said； for such is the way
to Drury Lane。
〃No； I mean the top。 The man was running west。〃
〃East。〃
〃West。〃
I smiled； which so annoyed him that he bet me two to one in
sovereigns。 The bet could have been decided most quickly by asking
William a question； but I thought； foolishly doubtless； that it might
hurt his feelings； so I watched him leave the club。 The possibility of
Upjohn's winning the bet had seemed remote to me。 Conceive my
surprise； therefore when William went westward。
Amazed； I pursued him along two streets without realising that I was
doing so。 Then curiosity put me into a hansom。 We followed William；
and it proved to be a three…shilling fare； for； running when he was in
breath and walking when he was out of it； he took me to West
Kensington。
I discharged my cab； and from across the street watched William's
incomprehensible behaviour。 He had stopped at a dingy row of workmen's
houses； and knocked at the darkened window of one of them。 Presently a
light showed。 So far as I could see； some one pulled up the blind and
for ten minutes talked to William。 I was uncertain whether they
talked； for the window was not opened； and I felt that； had William
spoken through the glass loud enough to be heard inside； I must have
heard him too。 Yet he nodded and beckoned。 I was still bewildered
when； by setting off the way he had come； he gave me the opportunity
of going home。
Knowing from the talk of the club what the lower orders are； could I
doubt that this was some discreditable love…affair of William's？ His
solicitude for his wife had been mere pretence； so far as it was
genuine； it meant that he feared she might recover。 He probably told
her that he was detained nightly in the club till three。
I was miserable next day； and blamed the deviled kidneys for it。
Whether William was unfaithful to his wife was nothing to me； but I
had two plain reasons for insisting on his going straight home from
his club： the one that； as he had made me lose a bet； I must punish
him； the other that he could wait upon me better if he went to bed
betimes。
Yet I did not question him。 There was something in his face that
Well； I seemed to see his dying wife in it。
I was so out of sorts that I could eat no dinner。 I left the club。
Happening to stand for some time at the foot of the street； I chanced
to see the girl Jenny coming； and No； let me tell the truth； though
the whole club reads： I