Before his mouth opened beneath his waxed moustache, Harry felt convinced that Lowndes had seen Scrafton, and was fully prepared for this visit.
"Well, Ringrose, what can I do for you?" he cried, as Harry advanced, and his tone was both cold and sharp.
"Ask your typist to step into another room," replied Harry, glancing towards the young girl at the clicking Remington.
Lowndes opened his eyes. Indeed, Harry had begun better than he himself expected, and his confidence increased as the other turned to his typist.
"Be good enough to leave us for a minute, Miss Neilson; we shan't be longer," said Lowndes pointedly. "Now," he added, "kindly take a seat, Ringrose."
But Harry came and stood at the other side of the magnificent desk.
"I want to ask you two or three questions, Mr. Lowndes," said he quietly.
"About the Company, eh?"
"No, not about the Company, Mr. Lowndes."
"Then this is neither the time nor place, and it will have to be a very short minute. But blaze away."