“Yes, sir; but you’ll excuse me, there was a knock.”
The clerk shuffled off his stool, and went to the door to admit a fresh visitor in the person of Wilton pere.
“Ah, Claud, my boy! You here?”
“Yes, father, I’m here; just come,” said the young man, sulkily.
“Well, found them?”
“Do I look as if I had found them, dad? No.”
“Tut-tut-tut!” ejaculated Wilton, who looked pale and worn with anxiety. “Mr Garstang in, Mr Barlow?”
“Yes, sir,” said the clerk; “shall I say you are here?”
“Ye-es,” said Wilton. “Take in my card, and say that I shall be obliged if he will give me an interview.”
The old clerk bowed, and left the outer office for the inner, while Wilton turned to his son, to say hastily, “You may as well come in with me as you are here.”