withdraws.

Intuitively Mr. Reiss, who is rather deaf, and has not caught the name,
grasps the paper and hides behind it. From long experience he has
discovered the utility of the newspaper as a sort of parapet
behind which he can better await attack.

A slight figure in khaki advances into the room, observes the newspaper
above the legs and smiles slightly.

"Hello, uncle!" It's a fresh young voice.

Mr. Reiss grunts, slowly lowers the paper and gazes at the youth over
his eyeglasses.

"Oh, it's you. When did you come up?"

"Just arrived, uncle. We're ordered out. I thought I'd look you up
at once as there are one or two things--"

"Eh--what?"

Among Mr. Reiss's characteristics is a disconcerting habit of making
people repeat their remarks. This is deliberate and its purpose
twofold--to gain time and to embarrass the person addressed.

The young fellow sits down rather uncomfortably and begins again--

"We're ordered out, you know--"