"My place for yours," says Nivens.

"Eh?" gasps Ham.

"That is, of course, if you've nothing better to do, sir," says Nivens,
quiet and soothin'. "You'd soon pick it up, sir, my tastes being quite
similar. For instance--the bath ready at nine; fruit, coffee, toast,
and eggs at nine-fifteen, with the morning papers and the mail laid
out. Then at--"

"See here, my man," breaks in Adams, breathin' hard. "Are you crazy,
or am I? Are you seriously suggesting that I become your valet?"

Nivens shrugs his shoulders.

"It occurred to me you'd find that the easiest way of settling your
account with me, sir," says he. "Then, too, you could stay on here,
almost as though nothing had happened. Quite likely I should go out a
bit more than you do, sir. Well, here you'd be: your easy chair, your
pictures, your favorite brands of cigars and Scotch. Oh, I assure you,
you'll find me quite as gentlemanly about not locking them up as you
have been, sir. I should make a few changes, of course; nothing
radical, however. And, really, that little back room of mine is very
cozy. What would come hardest for you, I suppose, would be the getting
up at seven-thirty; but with a good alarm clock, sir, you--"

"Stop!" says Ham. "This--this is absurd. My head's swimming from it.
And yet-- Well, what if I refuse?"