He had done nothing wrong. He was not,
as far as he was aware, mixed up in anything unpleasant. His
innocence, though it did not make him feel comfortable, gave him
courage to attempt an argument with Meldon.
"Why should I come down?" he said. "I'm umpiring in this match, and I
see no reason for leaving it in the middle."
"Very well," said Meldon. "If you choose to take up that sort of
attitude you'll only have yourself to thank for the unpleasantness
which will follow. Still, I've always had a regard for you, although
you're not what I'd call popular with the people of Ballymoy, so I
won't say more than I can help at first. Have you forgotten Miss King?"
"No," said Simpkins, "I haven't. Why should I? I mean to say, there's
nothing particular for me to remember about Miss King."
The secretary of the tennis club pushed his way through the crowd. He
was in an excited and irritated condition. Every single competitor had
complained that the handicapping was disgracefully done. Some were
angry because their skill was reckoned too cheaply; others thought that
their chances of winning were unduly prejudiced. They had all
expressed their opinions freely to the secretary.
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