“Then listen, if you please. Can you hear me now?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“That’s well. Show me to Mrs. Winkle’s room, without announcing me.”

As the little old gentleman uttered this command, he slipped five shillings into the waiter’s hand, and looked steadily at him.

“Really, sir,” said the waiter, “I don’t know, sir, whether⁠—”

“Ah! you’ll do it, I see,” said the little old gentleman. “You had better do it at once. It will save time.”

There was something so very cool and collected in the gentleman’s manner, that the waiter put the five shillings in his pocket, and led him upstairs without another word.