It was best to preserve a discreet
silence with regard to the whole affair, and leave him to settle it
for himself.
Jimmy Silver was more curious. He took Kennedy off to tea in his
study, sat him down in the best chair in front of the fire, and
proceeded to urge him to confess everything.
"Now, then, what's it all about?" he asked, briskly, spearing a muffin
on the fork and beginning to toast.
"It's no good asking me," said Kennedy. "I suppose it's a put-up job
to make me look a fool. I ought to have known something of this kind
would happen when I saw what they did to my first notice."
"What was that?"
Kennedy explained.
"This is getting thrilling," said Jimmy. "Just pass that plate.
Thanks. What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know. What would you do?"
"My dear chap, I'd first find out who was at the bottom of it--there's
bound to be one man who started the whole thing--and I'd make it my
aim in life to give him the warmest ten minutes he'd ever had."
"That sounds all right. But how would you set about it?"
"Why, touch him up, of course. What else would you do? Before the
whole house, too."
"Supposing he wouldn't be touched up?"
"Wouldn't _be!_ He'd have to."
"You don't know Kay's, Jimmy. You're thinking what you'd do if this
had happened in Blackburn's. The two things aren't the same.
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