Egerton, and I don’t wonder it came so soon, what with the worry about that other hussy going off like that⁠—would you like the Worcester, Mr. Egerton? You must tell me, you know, if there is anything. I know the last gentleman would have mushroom catchup, or ketchop as they call it⁠—nothing would satisfy him but mushroom catchup, and for those as like their insides messed up with toadstools and dandelions I’m shore it’s very tasty, but, as I was saying, that Emily was a bad one and there’s no mistake, gadding off like that with a young man and not her night out, and then the sauce of her people coming round and bothering Mrs. Byrne about her⁠—the idea. Cook tells me Mr. Byrne told them straight out about her goings on with young men all the time she’s been here, in and out, in and out night after night⁠—and⁠—”

John woke up with a start.