The interview took place in Sir Frank's quarters at the Fort on
the day after Hervey had called to propose a search for the
corpse. And it was during this interview that Braddock learned
something which both startled and annoyed him.
Random, at three o'clock, had just changed into mufti, when the
Professor was announced by his servant. Braddock, determined to
give his host no chance of denying himself, followed close on the
man's heels, and was in the room almost before Sir Frank had read
the card. It was a bare room, sparsely furnished, according to
the War Office's idea of comfort, and although the baronet had
added a few more civilized necessities, it still looked somewhat
dismal. Braddock, who liked comfort, shook hands carelessly with
his host and cast a disapproving eye on his surroundings.
"Dog kennel! dog kennel!" grumbled the polite Professor. "Bare
desolation like a damned dungeon. You might as well live in the
Sahara."
"It would certainly be warmer," replied Random, who knew the
scientist's snappy ways very well. "Take a chair, sir!"
"Hard as bricks, confound it! Hand me over a cushion. There,
that's better! No, I never drink between meals, thank you.
Smoke? Hang it, Random, you should know by this time that I
dislike making a chimney of my throat! There! there! don't fuss.
Pages:
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125