“Of course they are. Haven’t we just had dinner?”
Claude looked at her wearily, but her cousin laughed in a quick, excited way, and crossed to the canterbury to begin turning over the music.
“They’ll soon be here now,” she said.
But there did not seem to be much prospect of the gentlemen coming, for in a very few minutes after they were left alone, Gartram passed on the claret jug.
“Wine, gentlemen,” he said. “Asher, you would prefer a glass of old port?”
“Indeed, no, my dear sir; nothing more for me. I have to ask you to excuse me soon.”
“What!” cried Gartram.
“For about half-an-hour. A patient.”
“What a nuisance!” said Gartram. “Must you go?”
“Without fail.”