"I can assure you," Mr. Sabin said, "that I had not the faintest idea of coming. My visit to Norfolk will be anything but a pleasure trip, and I shall have no time to spare.
"I believe I have your address: 'Westacott Farm, Fakenham,' is it not? Now do what you like in the meantime, but a week from to-day there will be a letter from me there. Here is the cheque."
"Aren't you going to take me anywhere?" she asked. "You might ask me to have supper with you to-night."
"I am sorry," he said, "but I have a young lady living with me."
"She is my niece, and it takes more than my spare time to entertain her," he continued, without noticing the interjection. "You have plenty of friends. Go and look them up and enjoy yourself--for a week. I have no heart to go pleasure-making until my work is finished."
She drew on her gloves and walked to the door. Mr. Sabin came with her and opened it.
"I wish," she said, "that I could understand what in this world you are trying to evolve from those rubbishy papers."
"Some day," he said, "I will tell you. At present you would not understand. Be patient a little longer."
"It has been long enough," she exclaimed. "I have had seven months of it."
"And I," he answered, "seven years. Take care of yourself and remember, I shall want you in a week."
At precisely the hour agreed upon Harcutt and Densham met in one of the ante-rooms leading into the "Milan" restaurant. They surrendered their coats and hats to an attendant, and strolled about waiting for Wolfenden. A quarter of an hour passed. The stream of people from the theatres began to grow thinner. Still, Wolfenden did not come. Harcutt took out his watch.
"I propose that we do not wait any longer for Wolfenden," he said. "I saw him this afternoon, and he answered me very oddly when I reminded him about to-night. There is such a crowd here too, that they will not keep our table much longer."
"Let us go in, by all means," Densham agreed. "Wolfenden will easily find us if he wants to!"
Harcutt returned his watch to his pocket slowly, and without removing his eyes from Densham's face.
"You're not looking very fit, old chap," he remarked. "Is anything wrong?"
"I am a little tired," he said. "We've been keeping late hours the last few nights. There's nothing the matter with me, though. Come, let us go in!"