“No, sir, a man,” said Slummers.
“Very good,” said Stephen, with a breath of relief. “Who is it—do you know?”
Slummers shook his head.
“A rough sort of man, sir; says he has come on business. He has been waiting for hours.”
“I am very sorry,” said Stephen, aloud and blandly, for the benefit of the visitor. “I am sorry to have kept anyone waiting. But it is rather late——”
He entered the room as he spoke, and started slightly, for standing in the center of the apartment was Gideon Rolfe.
Notwithstanding the start Stephen came forward with outstretched hand and a ready smile of welcome.
“My dear Mr. Rolfe, I am indeed sorry that you should have been kept so long. If I had only known that you were coming——”
Gideon Rolfe waived all further compliment aside with a gesture of impatience.
“I wished to see you,” he said. “Time is no object to me.”