Thebusinessofthetoiletwasfaradvanced。Duncanhadjustplacedtheglassinagoodlight；andDuncan’smasterwasatthatturningpointinhisdailylifewhichconsistedinattaining，ornotattaining，absoluteperfectioninthetyingofhiswhitecravat——whensomeouterbarbarian，ignorantofthefirstprinciplesofdressingagentleman’sthroat，presumedtoknockatthebedroomdoor。Neithermasternorservantmovedorbreatheduntiltheintegrityofthecravatwasplacedbeyondthereachofaccident。ThenSirPatrickcastthelookoffinalcriticismintheglass，andbreathedagainwhenhesawthatitwasdone。
“Alittlelaboredinstyle，Duncan。Butnotbad，consideringtheinterruption？“
“Bynomeans，SirPatrick。“
“Seewhoitis。“
Duncanwenttothedoor；andreturned，tohismaster，withanexcusefortheinterruption，intheshapeofatelegram!