Chapter 8 - Page 2

Dick.

'Binks, is that a true bill?' said Torpenhow, severely. The little dog
retreated under the sofa cushion, and showed by the fat white back of
him that he really had no further interest in the discussion.

'Strikes me that another disreputable dog went for a walk, too,' said the
Nilghai. 'What made you get up so early? Torp said you might be buying
a horse.'

'He knows it would need three of us for a serious business like that. No, I
felt lonesome and unhappy, so I went out to look at the sea, and watch the
pretty ships go by.'

'Where did you go?'

'Somewhere on the Channel. Progly or Snigly, or some watering-place
was its name; I've forgotten; but it was only two hours' run from London
and the ships went by.'

'Did you see anything you knew?'

'Only the Barralong outwards to Australia, and an Odessa grain-boat
loaded down by the head. It was a thick day, but the sea smelt good.'

'Wherefore put on one's best trousers to see the Barralong?' said
Torpenhow, pointing.

'Because I've nothing except these things and my painting duds. Besides,
I wanted to do honour to the sea.'

'Did She make you feel restless?' asked the Nilghai, keenly.

'Crazy. Don't speak of it. I'm sorry I went.'

Torpenhow and the Nilghai exchanged a look as Dick, stooping, busied
himself among the former's boots and trees.

'These will do,' he said at last; 'I can't say I think much of your taste in
slippers, but the fit's the thing.' He slipped his feet into a pair of sock-like
sambhur-skin foot coverings, found a long chair, and lay at length.

'They're my own pet pair,' Torpenhow said. 'I was just going to put them
on myself.'

'All your reprehensible selfishness. Just because you see me happy for a
minute, you want to worry me and stir me up. Find another pair.'

'Good for you that Dick can't wear your clothes, Torp. You two live
communistically,' said the Nilghai.

'Dick never has anything that I can wear. He's only useful to sponge
upon.'

'Confound you, have you been rummaging round among my clothes,
then?' said Dick. 'I put a sovereign in the tobacco-jar yesterday. How do
you expect a man to keep his accounts properly if you----'

Here the Nilghai began to laugh, and Torpenhow joined him.

'Hid a sovereign yesterday! You're no sort of financier. You lent me a
fiver about a month back. Do you remember?' Torpenhow said.

'Yes, of course.'

'Do you remember that I paid it you ten days later, and you put it at the
bottom of the tobacco?'

'By Jove, did I? I thought it was in one of my colour-boxes.'

'You thought! About a week ago I went into your studio to get some
'baccy and found it.'