There was a moment’s perceptible pause.
“Won’t you come upstairs with me to Mr. Fenn’s room?” she continued.
“Not if your business is in any way private.”
She began to ascend the stairs.
“It isn’t private,” she said, “but I particularly want Mr. Fenn to tell me something, and as you know, he is peculiar. Perhaps, if you don’t mind, it would be better if you waited for me downstairs.”
Julian’s response was a little vague. She left him, however, without appearing to notice his reluctance and knocked at the door of Fenn’s room. She found him seated behind a desk, dictating some letters to a stenographer, whom he waved away at her entrance.
“Delighted to see you, Miss Abbeway,” he declared impressively, “delighted! Come and sit down, please, and talk to me. We have had a tremendous morning. Even though the machine is all ready to start, it needs a watchful hand all the time.”
She sank into the chair from which he had swept a pile of papers and raised her veil.
“Mr. Fenn,” she confessed. “I came to you because I have been very worried.”
He withdrew a little into himself. His eyes narrowed. His manner became more cautious.