"This is not a
matter of agreement, it's a matter of obedience. Issue your directions,
sir--issue your directions!"
Mr. Blake made me a sign to take him at his word. I "issued my
directions" as plainly and as gravely as I could.
"I wish certain parts of the house to be reopened," I said, "and to be
furnished, exactly as they were furnished at this time last year."
Betteredge gave his imperfectly-pointed pencil a preliminary lick with
his tongue. "Name the parts, Mr. Jennings!" he said loftily.
"First, the inner hall, leading to the chief staircase."
"'First, the inner hall,'" Betteredge wrote. "Impossible to furnish
that, sir, as it was furnished last year--to begin with."
"Why?"
"Because there was a stuffed buzzard, Mr. Jennings, in the hall last
year. When the family left, the buzzard was put away with the other
things. When the buzzard was put away--he burst."
"We will except the buzzard then."
Betteredge took a note of the exception. "'The inner hall to be
furnished again, as furnished last year. A burst buzzard alone
excepted.' Please to go on, Mr. Jennings."
"The carpet to be laid down on the stairs, as before.
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