Neva, arranging to go West on the afternoon express, was stopped by a note from Armstrong:
"I hope you will come to my office at eleven to-morrow. I beg you not to refuse this, the greatest favor, except one, that I have ever asked."
At eleven the next morning she entered the ante-room to his office. He and his secretary were alone there, he walking up and down with a nervousness Morton had never seen in him. At sight of her, his manner abruptly changed. "I was afraid something would happen to prevent your coming," he said as they shook hands. He avoided her glance. "Thank you. Thank you." And he took her into his inner office. "I have an engagement—a meeting that will keep me a few minutes," he went on. "It's only in the next room here."
"Don't hurry on my account," said she.
"I'll just put you at this desk here," he continued, with a curious elaborateness of manner. "There are the morning's papers—and some magazines. I shall be back—as soon as possible. You are sure you don't mind?"
"Indeed, no," she replied, seating herself. "This is most comfortable."
There were sounds of several persons entering the adjoining room. "I'll go now," said he. "The sooner I go, the sooner I shall be free. You will wait?"
"Here," she assured him, wondering that he would not let his eyes meet hers even for an instant.
He went into the next room, leaving the door ajar, but not widely enough for her to see or to be seen. She took up a magazine, began a story. The sound of the voices disturbed her. She heard enough to gather that some kind of business meeting was going on, resumed the story. Suddenly she heard Armstrong's voice. She listened. He, all of them, were so near that she could hear every word.
"You will probably be surprised to learn, gentlemen," he was saying, loudly, clearly, "that I have been impatiently awaiting your coming. And now that you are here, I shall not only give you every opportunity to examine the affairs of the O.A.D., but I shall insist upon your taking advantage of it to the fullest. I look to you, gentlemen, to end the campaign of calumny against your association and its management."