After a few days of this , while I was wandering the main hall smelling the flowers in their vases and touching the plush wallpaper , one of the maids came running from the other end of the corridor .
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‘ Eh , soft lad , the bell is ringing !’ She called . ‘ But he ’ s in the city today .’ ‘ Tell that to the bell ! Get upstairs !’
I bounded up the stairs two at a time and ranwalked down the corridor until I came to Mr Jekyll ’ s rooms . I knocked twice and waited .
‘ Come ,’ said a quiet voice .
I opened the door and entered the PM ’ s study . A vast room greeted me ; the walls lined with shelves filled with more books than a person could hope to read in one lifetime . In the centre of the room was a coffee table . Two men sat at it .
The older of the two , had a face like a well-worn leather boot . His bulbous nose was a deep red , and his rheumy eyes were nestled in deep pitted sockets . He held a walking stick and stared at me .
The other man was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom . He was a small man seemingly being swallowed by his chair . His skin was thin and grey , which added to the illusion that he was disappearing .
‘ About time ,’ said the older man . ‘ Bloody hell , sir , you need better help .’
‘ He ’ s new ,’ said Jekyll in his hushed tones . ‘ Boy . A brandy for Sir Danvers and a cup of chocolate for myself .’