This
puzzled Gammon, yet less than it could have done at an earlier stage
of their acquaintance. He had abandoned the hope of explaining
Greenacre's mysterious circumstances, and the attempt to decide
whether his stories were worthy of belief or not. Half suspecting
that he might be the victim of a hoax he telegraphed an acceptance,
and thought no more of the matter until evening approached. Part of
his day was spent in helping a distracted shopkeeper on the verge of
failure to obtain indulgence from certain of his creditors he also
secured a place as errand boy for the son of a poor woman with whom
he had lodged until her house was burnt down one Bank Holiday; and
he made a trip to Hammersmith to give evidence at the police-court
for a friend charged with assaulting a policeman. Just before eight
o'clock, after a hasty wash and brush up at a public lavatory, he
presented himself at the great hotel, where, from a lounge in the
smoking-room, Greenacre rose to welcome him. Greenacre indubitably,
but much better dressed than Gammon had ever seen him, and with an
air of lively graciousness which was very impressive.
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