Not many people who come here on business do.

Stable fittings are more in their way." I don't know whether my appreciation helped to advance my friend's business but at any rate it helped our intercourse.

He treated me with a shade of familiarity as one of the initiated.
The last time I called on him to conclude the transaction we were interrupted by a person, something like a cross between a bookmaker and a private secretary, who, entering through a door which was not the anteroom door, walked up and stooped to whisper into his ear.
"Eh?
What?
Who, did you say ?" The nondescript person stooped and whispered again, adding a little louder: "Says he won't detain you a moment." My little man glanced at me, said "Ah! Well," irresolutely.

I got up from my chair and offered to come again later.

He looked whimsically alarmed.