Bayliss took a spectacle-case from the recesses of his costume,opened it, took out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, dived into thejungle again, came out with a handkerchief, polished thespectacles, put them on his nose, closed the case, restored it toits original position, replaced the handkerchief, and took up thepaper.

　　"Why the hesitation, Bayliss? Why the coyness?" enquired Jimmy,lying with closed eyes. "Begin!""I was adjusting my glasses, sir.""All set now?""Yes, sir. Shall I read the headlines first?""Read everything."The butler cleared his throat.

　　"Good Heavens, Bayliss," moaned Jimmy, starting, "don't gargle.

　　Have a heart! Go on!"Bayliss began to read.

　　FRACAS IN FASHIONABLE NIGHT-CLUBSPRIGS OF NOBILITY BRAWLJimmy opened his eyes, interested.

　　"Am I a sprig of nobility?""It is what the paper says, sir.""We live and learn. Carry on."The butler started to clear his throat, but checked himself.

　　SENSATIONAL INTERNATIONAL CONTESTBATTLING PERCY(England)vCYCLONE JIM(America)FULL DESCRIPTION BY OUR EXPERTJimmy sat up.

　　"Bayliss, you're indulging that distorted sense of humour ofyours again. That isn't in the paper?""Yes, sir. Very large headlines."Jimmy groaned.

　　"Bayliss, I'll give you a piece of advice which may be useful toyou when you grow up. Never go about with newspaper men. It allcomes back to me. Out of pure kindness of heart I took young BillBlake of the _Sun_ to supper at the Six Hundred last night. This ismy reward. I suppose he thinks it funny. Newspaper men are a lowlot, Bayliss.""Shall I go on, sir?""Most doubtless. Let me hear all."Bayliss resumed. He was one of those readers who, whether theirsubject be a murder case or a funny anecdote, adopt a measuredand sepulchral delivery which gives a suggestion of tragedy andhorror to whatever they read. At the church which he attended onSundays, of which he was one of the most influential andrespected members, children would turn pale and snuggle up totheir mothers when Bayliss read the lessons. Young Mr. Blake'saccount of the overnight proceedings at the Six Hundred Club herendered with a gloomy gusto more marked even than his wont. Ithad a topical interest for him which urged him to extend himself.

　　"At an early hour this morning, when our myriad readerswere enjoying that refreshing and brain-restoring sleep sonecessary to the proper appreciation of the _Daily Sun_ atthe breakfast table, one of the most interesting sportingevents of the season was being pulled off at the SixHundred Club in Regent Street, where, after three roundsof fast exchanges, James B. Crocker, the well-knownAmerican welter-weight scrapper, succeeded in stoppingLord Percy Whipple, second son of the Duke of Devizes,better known as the Pride of Old England. Once again thesuperiority of the American over the English style ofboxing was demonstrated. Battling Percy has a kind heart,but Cyclone Jim packs the punch.""The immediate cause of the encounter had to do with adisputed table, which each gladiator claimed to haveengaged in advance over the telephone.""I begin to remember," said Jimmy meditatively. "A pill withbutter-coloured hair tried to jump my claim. Honeyed wordsproving fruitless, I soaked him on the jaw. It may be that I wasnot wholly myself. I seem to remember an animated session at theEmpire earlier in the evening, which may have impaired myself-control. Proceed!""One word leading to others, which in their turn led toseveral more, Cyclone Jim struck Battling Percy on whatour rude forefathers were accustomed to describe as themazzard, and the gong sounded for"ROUND ONE"Both men came up fresh and eager to mix things, though itseems only too probable that they had already been mixingmore things than was good for them. Battling Percy tried aright swing which got home on a waiter. Cyclone Jim put ina rapid one-two punch which opened a large gash in theatmosphere. Both men sparred cautiously, being hampered intheir movements by the fact, which neither had at thisstage of the proceedings perceived, that they were onopposite sides of the disputed table. A clever Fitzsimmons'