Melba said nothing.
"Would you go?" continued Jimmy, seeking valiance from his friend.
"No," said Melba stoutly.
"'Tisn't you that have got to do it," said Jimmy bitterly. "'Twas me he called up. I signed, you know, Melba. It 's my name they 've got."
"If it was me" began Melba.
"'Tisn't you," said Jimmy rudely, and as he said it Booby came out.
"If you two are going to talk business," he said suspiciously, "I 'm going home to my rooms."
"Fact is, Booby," said Jimmy, "I 've just heard about my aunt; she 's dying."
Booby was concerned.
"Oh, dear!" he said.
"Yes," went on Jimmy rapidly, bringing out his watch, and seeing that it lacked only seven minutes of ten, "it 's bad, very bad! I can't wait."
He thrust himself into his coat, looked over his shoulder as he ran down the stairs, and with the very disconcerting cry, "Keep Booby!" hurled at his companion, he sought the street and a taxi, and was half-way to King's Cross before he remembered that Melba
