“I beg your pardon, sir,” said Parkinson, with some constraint. “I understood that you had taken the rooms for a week certain.”
“I am afraid that Miss Chubb will be under the same impression. Unforeseen circumstances will prevent our going, however. Mr Greatorex must write to-morrow, enclosing a cheque, with my regrets, and adding a penny for this ruler which I seem to have brought away with me. It, at least, is something for the money.”
Parkinson may be excused for not attempting to understand the course of events.
“Here is your train coming in, sir,” he merely said.
“We will let it go and wait for another. Is there a signal at either end of the platform?”
“Yes, sir; at the further end.”
“Let us walk towards it. Are there any of the porters or officials about here?”
“No, sir; none.”
“Take this ruler. I want you to go up the steps—there are steps up the signal, by the way?”
“Yes, sir.”