“In one moment,” Burton replied.  “Excuse me for one moment, if you please.”

He hastened across the street and returned a moment or two later with a bunch of violets in his hand.  Mr. Lynn watched him, partly in amazement, partly in disapproval.  There seemed to be very little left of the smart, businesslike young man whose methods, only a short time ago, had commanded his unwilling admiration.  Mr. Alfred Burton’s expression had undergone a complete change.  His eyes had lost their calculating twinkle, his mouth had softened.  A pleasant but somewhat abstracted smile had taken the place of his forced amiability.

“You will forgive me, won’t you?” he said, as he regained the pavement.  “I really haven’t smelt violets before this year.  Spring comes upon us Londoners so suddenly.”

“About that house, now,” the American insisted, a little sharply.

“Certainly,” Burton replied, removing his eyes unwillingly from the passing barrow.  “I really don’t think you had better take it, Mr. Lynn.  You see, it is not generally known, but there is no doubt that Lord Idlemay had typhoid fever there.”

“Typhoid!” Mr. Lynn exclaimed, incredulously.

His companion nodded.

“Two of the servants were down with it as well,” he continued.  “We implored Lady Idlemay, when she offered us the letting of the house, to have the drains put in thorough order, but when we got the estimate out for her she absolutely declined.  To tell you the truth, the best agents had all refused, under the circumstances, to have the house upon their books at all.  That is why we got the letting of it.”

Mr. Lynn removed the cigar from his mouth for a moment.  There was a slight frown Upon his forehead.  He was puzzled.

“Say, you’re not getting at me for any reason, are you?” he demanded.

“My dear sir!” Burton protested, eagerly.  “I am simply doing my duty and telling you the truth.  The house is not in a fit state to be let to any one—­certainly not to a man with a family.  If you will permit me to say so, you are not going the right way to secure a suitable house.  You simply walked into our office because you saw the sign up, and listened to anything the governor had to say.  We haven’t any west-end houses at all upon our books.  It isn’t our business, unfortunately.  Miller & Sons, or Roscoe’s, are the best people.  No one would even come to see you at Idlemay House, much less stay with you—­the place has such a bad reputation.”

“Then will you be good enough to just explain to me why you were cracking it up like blazes only a few minutes ago?” Mr. Lynn demanded, indignantly.  “I nearly took the darned place!”

Mr. Burton shook his head penitently.

“I am afraid that I cannot explain, sir,” he confessed.  “To tell you the truth, I do not understand in the least how I could have brought myself to be so untruthful.  I am only thankful that no harm has been done.”