“I’d better go now?”
“Yes, sir, you’d better go now. And might have gone before for all the good you’ve done,” grumbled the old man, as Harry passed the window.
The old man had hardly spent another half-hour over his work when there was a sharp tapping at the door, such as might be given by the knob on a stick.
“Come in.”
The door was opened, and Pradelle entered and gave a sharp look round.
“Morning,” he said in a cavalier way. “Tell Mr Vine I want to speak to him for a moment.”
Old Crampton looked up from his writing, and fixed his eyes on the visitor’s hat.
“Not at home,” he said shortly.
“How long will he be?”
“Don’t know.”