"I've had a cold," I said. "Got wet through shooting one day last week."
My cousin regarded me incredulously.
"A cold! You!" he remarked. "I like that! I don't believe you ever had such a thing in your life!"
I leaned forward in the cab to look at the placards of the afternoon papers.
"Any news in town?" I asked.
"None at all," Gilbert answered. "There's scarcely any one about. I'm off to Hamburg to-morrow myself."
"And Lord Polloch?" I asked.
"He's off to Scotland to-night for a fortnight's golf. Afterwards I believe he's going abroad. You must confess that your appearance here is a little extraordinary. If I hadn't been on particularly good terms with Polloch, I could not possibly have got you an interview. He's up to his eyes in work, and as keen as a schoolboy on getting away for his holiday."
"It's very good of you," I answered.
My cousin regarded me critically.