Beta Book

As he stole into the car Dr. Mittyford seemed comparatively
human, remarking: "I feel bored this evening. I thought I would
give you a _nuit blanche_. How would you like to go to the Red
Unicorn at Brempton--one of the few untouched old inns?"
"That would be nice," said Mr. Wrenn, unenthusiastically.
His chilliness impressed Dr. Mittyford, who promptly told one of
the best of his well-known whimsical yet scholarly stories.
"Ha! ha!" remarked Mr. Wrenn.
He had been saying to himself: "By golly! I ain't going to even
try to be a society guy with him no more. I'm just going to be
_me_, and if he don't like it he can go to the dickens."
So he was gentle and sympathetic and talked West Sixteenth
Street slang, to the rhetorician's lofty amusement.
The tap-room of the Red Unicorn was lighted by candles and
a fireplace. That is a simple thing to say, but it was not a
simple thing for Mr. Wrenn to see. As he observed the trembling
shadows on the sanded floor he wriggled and excitedly murmured,
"Gee!.


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