“The telegram does not indicate anything like that, but the fellow states he expects me to be there. Politeness would cost an extra twopence; they’re a parsimonious lot,” said Kit, and turned to Mrs. Carson. “Well, I suppose I must get the evening train. May I use the car?”
Mrs. Carson agreed, and soon afterwards Kit drove to the station. When he reached the town at the river mouth, he pulled out his watch, and after pondering for a few moments, started for Blake’s flat.
The night was hot, shipyard and steel works smoke floated across the grimy houses, and the street was crowded. After the spacious moors and the calm at Netherhall, the noisy traffic jarred; Kit shrank from the smell of stale fish by the dark shops, and when he was stopped by the crowd coming from a glittering music hall he frowned. He had not bothered about things like that before, but he admitted he was annoyed. His glorious day had not ended as he had thought, and the manager’s call was ominous. Blake, however, might know something about it, and Kit pushed savagely through the noisy groups that blocked the pavement.
When he got to the flat, Blake was not at home. Mrs. Blake said he had gone to a seaport where a dredger the company had built was at work. She forced Kit to stay for supper and he remarked that her appetite was not good. She pushed the plates about nervously, and he thought her highly strung. When the meal was over, she rested her arms on the table and with something of an effort faced Kit.
“Now we must talk about the telegram. You don’t know what Colvin wants?”
“I’m altogether in the dark,” Kit replied.
Mrs. Blake’s glance was searching, but he knew she did not doubt him.
“Then, I can give you some light. The opposition boat has run her trial and has beaten yours. She is half a knot faster, but that is not all. She gets up steam in a shorter time.”
“It’s awkward,” said Kit, and frowned, for the news disturbed him. “Fast steaming’s important, but I’m puzzled. Our boiler’s famous, and we reckoned we had adapted it to the job. Robbins declared it would beat the other.”
“Perhaps he didn’t boast. Mr. Colvin reckons the other people’s draftsman knew the improvements you had made, and used your plans.”