The Old Adam: A Story of Adventure

by Arnold Bennett

  IV.

  The next scene in the exciting drama of Edward Henry's existence thatday took place in a building as huge as Wilkins's itself. As thebrougham halted at its portals an old and medalled man rushed forth,touched his cap, and assisted Edward Henry to alight. Within thegroined and echoing hall of the establishment a young boy sprang outand, with every circumstance of deference, took Edward Henry's hat andstick. Edward Henry then walked a few steps to a lift, and said"Smoking-room!" to another menial, who bowed humbly before him, and atthe proper moment bowed him out of the lift. Edward Henry, crossing amarble floor, next entered an enormous marble apartment chieflypopulated by easy chairs and tables. He sat down to a table, andfiercely rang a bell which reposed thereon. Several other menialssimultaneously appeared out of invisibility, and one of them hurriedobsequiously towards him.

  "Bring me a glass of water and a peerage," said Edward Henry.

  "I beg pardon, sir. A glass of water and--"

  "A peerage. P double e-r-a-g-e."

  "I beg your pardon, sir. I didn't catch. Which peerage, sir? We haveseveral."

  "All of them."

  In a hundred seconds, the last menial having thanked him for kindlytaking the glass and the pile of books, Edward Henry was sipping waterand studying peerages. In two hundred seconds he was off again. Amenial opened the swing-doors of the smoking-room for him, and bowed.The menial of the lift bowed, wafted him downwards, and bowed. Theinfant menial produced his hat and stick and bowed. The old andmedalled menial summoned his brougham with a frown at the chauffeur anda smile at Edward Henry, bowed, opened the door of the brougham, helpedEdward Henry in, bowed, and shut the door.

  "Where to, sir?"

  "262 Eaton Square," said Edward Henry.

  "Thank you, sir," said the aged menial, and repeated in a curt andperemptory voice to the chauffeur, "262 Eaton Square!" Lastly hetouched his cap.

  And Edward Henry swiftly left the precincts of the headquarters ofpolitical democracy in London.