"You have done right," I said to Emilia.
"How thankful I am that you approve!" she exclaimed. "It seemed to me ungrateful that I should take a step so important without consulting you."
"You had no choice," I said, "and M. Bordier is a gentleman. Did his son accompany him?"
"Poor Julian! I do not know. I fear he is scarcely in a fit state."
I inferred from this that Julian Bordier was ill, but before I had time to make an inquiry my mother entered the room.
"A telegram for you," she said, and handed it to me.
I tore it open and read it. "I have strange and important news for you. Sophy is with me. Come down at once. Bob."
There was an A B C in the house, and I turned over the pages feverishly. I had just twenty-two minutes to catch a train, the last of the day, which would enable me to get to Bob at about eleven o'clock. Late as it would be I knew that he would expect me. I rapidly explained to Emilia the necessity of my immediate departure, and ran out of the house. Fortunately a cab was passing. "Drive as if Old Nick was at your heels," I said to the cabby, jumping in. "Treble fare." The driver cracked his whip, and away we rattled.