Dixon folded the journal and rose with dignity, saying:
—Our men retired in good order.—
—With guns and cattle—added Stephen, pointing to the titlepage of Cranly's book on which was written Diseases of the Ox.
As they passed through a lane of the tables Stephen said:
—Cranly, I want to speak to you.
Cranly did not answer or turn. He laid his book on the counter and passed out, his well shod feet sounding flatly on the floor. On the staircase he paused and gazing absently at Dixon repeated:
—Pawn to king's bloody fourth.—
—Put it that way if you like, Dixon said.—
He had a quiet toneless voice and urbane manners and on a finger of his plump clean hand he displayed at moments a signet ring.
As they crossed the hall a man of dwarfish stature came towards them. Under the dome of his tiny hat his unshaven face began to smile with pleasure and he was heard to murmur. The eyes were melancholy as those of a monkey.
—Good evening, gentlemen—said the stubble grown monkeyish face.
—Warm weather for March—said Cranly.—They have the windows open upstairs.—
Dixon smiled and turned his ring. The blackish, monkey puckered face pursed its human mouth with gentle pleasure and its voice purred:
—Delightful weather for March. Simply delightful.—
[267]
