Well known to be an abstemious gentleman, Mr. Martin, against all custom (but with a carefully-guarded, premeditated agenda), downed the highball proffered him by the braying Ulgine, and drew heavily upon his Camel. His inexpertise at how to comport himself properly while indulging such worldly vices was in no wise betrayed by any obvious unease nor the least peep from the two boys who had slipped in past the door while Mrs. Barrows was herself all too preoccupied goggling the odd little man arrived so unexpectedly at her home.
Adapting to the commonplace-type ordinary and, then, to the uber extraordinary circumstance that had fallen upon his bald head and narrow shoulders, Mr. Martin knew what he must do. He would employ the wiles of the cunning boys who had slithered in under his feet.
Little did Walter and Caspar realize that their stealth had been for naught.
Mrs. Barrows may have been hoodwinked but Mr. Martin was totally put in the picture.