some life had returned to Jekyll ’ s features , and he seemed somehow bigger , more present .
‘ Will there be anything else , sir ?’ I said .
He beckoned with the stem of his pipe to the chair next to where I was standing . ‘ Sit .’
I did as I was told as he lit the pipe and puffed on it for a few moments in silence .
‘ Do you like your new home ?’
‘ I do , sir . Everyone is so kind , and it ' s so exciting to be here , in the centre of the Empire .
He smiled without humour , ‘ The centre of the Empire . Yes , indeed .’
I didn ’ t know what to say to that , so I remained silent . He sat smoking his pipe as though he was alone , and I wasn ’ t sure what the etiquette was . Should I stay here or slip away ? Was there a cue for me to know when I had served my purpose ?
‘ Where do your family live ?’ ‘ Up north , sir . Huddersfield .’
‘ That ’ s good country ,’ he said . ‘ It ’ s been a while since I ’ ve left London . I sometimes wonder if everywhere in England is full of machines belching smoke and shouting men .’
‘ I think becoming Prime Minister might not be a way to avoid shouting men , sir .’
He laughed . ‘ True enough .’ He chewed on his pipe stem . ‘ What did you think of Sir Danvers ?’
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