Colander had opened the door to him, and he had shot into the hall. The
major-domo obstructed the farther entrance of such a coat.
"I tell you my master is not at home," remonstrated the major-domo.
"How can you say so," cried Mrs. Vane, in surprise, "when you know he is
in the garden?"
"Simpleton!" thought Colander.
"Show the gentleman in."
"Gentleman!" muttered Colander.
Triplet thanked her for her condescension; he would wait for Mr. Vane in
the hall. "I came by appointment, madam; this is the only excuse for the
importunity you have just witnessed."
Hearing this, Mrs. Vane dismissed Colander to inform his master. Colander
bowed loftily, and walked into the servants' hall without deigning to
take the last proposition into consideration.
"Come in here, sir," said Mabel; "Mr. Vane will come as soon as he can
leave his company." Triplet entered in a series of obsequious jerks. "Sit
down and rest you, sir." And Mrs. Vane seated herself at the table, and
motioned with her white hand to Triplet to sit beside her.
Triplet bowed, and sat on the edge of a chair, and smirked and dropped
his portfolio, and instantly begged Mrs. Vane's pardon; in taking it up,
he let fall his manuscript, and was again confused; but in the middle of
some superfluous and absurd excuse his eye fell on the haunch; it
straightway dilated to an enormous size, and he became suddenly silent
and absorbed in contemplation.
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