Haste was evident in Mr. Pembroke's manner as well as in his words, and Clara bade him good-by at once. She went to her room for her traveling bag, and when she returned to the carriage Litizki was waiting for her.
"Is it the noon train, Miss Hilman?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered; "won't you ride to the station with me?"
"Do you wish it?" said the little tailor, hesitatingly.
"Of course I do. Come, there may be things we wish to tell each other."
So Litizki sat beside her on the way to the station, and after the carriage started he said:
"Miss Hilman, I shrink from asking questions, and yet I think you will admit that I have more than curiosity about the result of your call on Miss White."
"You have every right to know," she responded; "we talked very frankly after a while, and I came away satisfied that she is not an accomplice of Poubalov's."
Litizki stared out of the window in silence for a time, and finally spoke much as if he were addressing himself: