“You and my father, Mr. Malakite,” he said in a low tone, “must have seen quite a lot of each other in those old days.”

“One more cup, if you please, Sir. A lot of each other? Well⁠—no. He was a gentleman, you see; and I’ve never been anything but a tradesman. But still⁠ ⁠… in a manner of speaking, we were friends, I suppose.”