An Empty Glass.
197
There's more in this than you can understand.
More hangs on it than your poor head can guess.
It matters not to you what it may mean,
But keep this thought before you all the time,
That if it fails, 'twere better you were dead.
Your memory of me is not good, I know,
But you'll remember that I keep my word.
Remember also that I never ask
For service unrequited. You shall have
The fees I earn, yes, every penny piece
Shall go to you, and here's a week's advance.
It happens, happily, my purse is full,
And that same purse is deeper than it was
In those old days you know of. I shall see
You do not suffer. If you ring me up,
Or write to me, or drop the faintest hint,
Or let my name leak out in any way,
You'll learn what kind of thing I call revenge.
Now I shall go and get a drug for you,
That will relieve your head, and you must stay
Here till I come. Lie there and wait for me.
Then you shall tell me details of the case
That I may know just where to take it up,
Now you can ring up Mrs. Arnold, say
More hangs on it than your poor head can guess.
It matters not to you what it may mean,
But keep this thought before you all the time,
That if it fails, 'twere better you were dead.
Your memory of me is not good, I know,
But you'll remember that I keep my word.
Remember also that I never ask
For service unrequited. You shall have
The fees I earn, yes, every penny piece
Shall go to you, and here's a week's advance.
It happens, happily, my purse is full,
And that same purse is deeper than it was
In those old days you know of. I shall see
You do not suffer. If you ring me up,
Or write to me, or drop the faintest hint,
Or let my name leak out in any way,
You'll learn what kind of thing I call revenge.
Now I shall go and get a drug for you,
That will relieve your head, and you must stay
Here till I come. Lie there and wait for me.
Then you shall tell me details of the case
That I may know just where to take it up,
Now you can ring up Mrs. Arnold, say
