"It isn't your brother," said Alois. "It's I."
"Oh!" Her tone was very different—and he did not like it, though he could not have said why. "The servant," she explained, "said she thought it was Hugo."
"I've changed my mind about going abroad. You said you wanted to see me about some matter. I think—in fact, I'm sure—I know what you mean. Don't trouble; I'll come out all right. By the way, please tell your father I'm not going, will you?"
"Father!" she exclaimed. "Did he want you to go?"
"I'd rather not talk about that. It's a matter of business. Please don't give him the impression I told you anything. Really, I haven't—have I?"
"Did father want you to go abroad?" insisted Amy.
"I can't talk about it over the telephone. I'll tell you when I see you—all about it—if you think you'd be interested."
"Please answer my one question," she pleaded. "Then I'll not bother you any more."
"Then—yes." He waited for her next remark, but it did not come. "Are you still there?"
"Yes," came her answer, faint and strange.