Soames.
"You know," said Gianapolis, the gaze of his left eye bisecting that
of his right in a most bewildering manner, "they call this 'the 'tec's
tabernacle!'"
"Indeed," said Soames, without enthusiasm; "I suppose some of the
Scotland Yard men do drop in now and then?"
"Beyond doubt, my dear Soames."
Soames responded to his companion's radiant smile with a smile of his
own by no means so pleasant to look upon. Soames had the type of face
which, in repose, might be the face of an honest man; but his smile
would have led to his instant arrest on any racecourse in Europe: it was
the smile of a pick-pocket.
"Now," continued Gianapolis, "here is a quarter's salary in advance."
From a pocket-book, he took a little brown paper envelope and from the
brown paper envelope counted out four five-pound notes, five golden
sovereigns, one half-sovereign, and ten shillings' worth of silver.
Soames' eyes glittered, delightedly.
"A little informal receipt?" smiled Gianapolis, raising his eyebrows,
satanically. "Here on this page of my notebook I have written: 'Received
from Mr. King for service rendered, 26 pounds, being payment, in
advance, of amount due on 31st October 19--' I have attached a stamp
to the page, as you will see," continued Gianapolis, "and here is a
fountain-pen.
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