My man came in, and
announced that Mr. Spenser Hale wished to see me, and, indeed, any
night, but especially when there is rain or fog outside, I am more
pleased to talk with a friend than to read a newspaper.
'_Mon Dieu_, my dear Monsieur Hale, it is a brave man you are to
venture out in such a fog as is abroad tonight.'
'Ah, Monsieur Valmont,' said Hale with pride, 'you cannot raise a fog
like this in Paris!'
'No. There you are supreme,' I admitted, rising and saluting my
visitor, then offering him a chair.
'I see you are reading the latest news,' he said, indicating my
newspaper, 'I am very glad that man Bryan is defeated. Now we shall
have better times.'
I waved my hand as I took my chair again. I will discuss many things
with Spenser Hale, but not American politics; he does not understand
them. It is a common defect of the English to suffer complete
ignorance regarding the internal affairs of other countries.
'It is surely an important thing that brought you out on such a night
as this. The fog must be very thick in Scotland Yard.'
This delicate shaft of fancy completely missed him, and he answered
stolidly,--
'It's thick all over London, and, indeed, throughout most of England.
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