“I don’t, you know,” proceeded Fledgeby with an ill-favoured glance, “entertain the vanity of supposing that my wits could be of any use to you in society, but they might be here. You cultivate society and society cultivates you, but Mr. Riah’s not society. In society, Mr. Riah is kept dark; eh, Mr. Twemlow?”

Twemlow, much disturbed, and with his hand fluttering about his forehead, replied: “Quite true.”