“Why for?” asked Jack, yawning. Then he looked up curiously. “I wish I’d known it; I’d have come home. Look here, Len, we’ll go and dine somewhere; if there is anything left to eat in this howling desert of a London. If ever any man was bored to death and sick of it, I am this day. Twenty-four hours more of it, and I should chuck myself into the Serpentine! I never spent such a day——”
He stopped suddenly, for he became conscious that Leonard was standing, looking down at him with a grave and earnest regard.
“What’s the matter, old man?” he asked.
Leonard hesitated.
“Jack,” he said, at last, “Moss has been here.”
“Oh, has he?” said Jack, carelessly.
“Yes, and there is trouble about. He is pressing for his money.”
“What!” exclaimed Jack.
Leonard nodded.
“Yes, he means mischief; he made quite a fuss here. Said he had a heavy claim to meet——”