'The man--'

'That rotter, Reade,' said Barrett, also of Philpott's, 'has been
telling us that burglary chestnut of his all the morning. I wish you
chaps wouldn't encourage him.'

'Why, what was it? First I've heard of it, at any rate.' Dallas and
Vaughan, of Ward's, added themselves to the group. 'Out with it,
Reade,' said Vaughan.

'It's only a beastly reminiscence of Reade's childhood,' said Barrett.
'A burglar got into the wine-cellar and collared all the coals.'

'He didn't. He was in the hall, and my pater got his revolver--'

'While you hid under the bed.'

'--and potted at him over the banisters.'

'The last time but three you told the story, your pater fired through
the keyhole of the dining-room.'

'You idiot, that was afterwards.'

'Oh, well, what does it matter? Tell us something fresh.'

'It's my opinion,' said Dallas, 'that Ward did it. A man of the vilest
antecedents. He's capable of anything from burglary--'

'To attempted poisoning. You should see what we get to eat in Ward's