"I have asked you in, Mr. Winthrope," said Monroe, "to apologize for intruding on you last night. It was only a whim of one of the boys out on a lark, with whom, unfortunately, I fell in with at the untimely hour."
"Oh, that is all right, Mr. Monroe," replied John. "I took no offense at your visit."
"I thought, perhaps, you might have been offended."
"The fact is, I was very busy last night and forgot all about your intrusion after you had gone," said John, smiling affably, but with noticeable indifference in his voice.
"I should like to have your confidence, Mr. Winthrope," said the wily one. "Inasmuch, as we are near to the head of the firm, we should be on better terms."
"Perhaps we should," answered John, still indifferent.
"I shall deem it a pleasure to have you call on me some evening, and accompany me to dinner; or, if you will set the time, I shall call on you."
"You are very kind, Mr. Monroe."
"May I call, or will you call?"
"Neither," replied John, without exhibiting a sign of what he meant.