"I would now like to know," said Mrs. Fisher, "what you propose
to do for the rest of the time here."
"Nothing," said Scrap, smiling.
"Nothing? Do you mean to say--"
"If I may be allowed, ladies," interposed Mr. Wilkins in his
suavest professional manner, "to make a suggestion"--they both looked
at him, and remembering him as they first saw him felt indulgent-- "I
would advise you not to spoil a delightful holiday with worries over
housekeeping."
"Exactly," said Mrs. Fisher. "It is what I intend to avoid."
"Most sensible," said Mr. Wilkins. "Why not, then," he
continued, "allow the cook--an excellent cook, by the way--so much a
head per diem"--Mr. Wilkins knew what was necessary in Latin--"and
tell her that for this sum she must cater for you, and not only cater
but cater as well as ever? One could easily reckon it out. The
charges of a moderate hotel, for instance, would do as a basis, halved,
or perhaps even quartered."
"And this week that has just passed?" asked Mrs. Fisher. "The
terrible bills of this first week? What about them?"
"They shall be my present to San Salvatore," said Scrap, who
didn't like the idea of Lotty's nest-egg being reduced so much beyond
what she was prepared for.
There was a silence. The ground was cut from under Mrs.
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