"I wish to remain in Yokohama, and I desire a situation. If you will give me the same position I formerly occupied in this office, I will secure you the good will of my firms. What do you say?"
Grant selected a letter from a pile on the desk and glanced over it. He smiled as if particularly well pleased at something, and then asked in a suave voice:
"When did you leave London, Mr. Round?"
"Why—er—on the second of last month."
"And when did you reach that city after leaving my father's service?"
"What the deuce?—I mean, about two months later. Why do you ask these questions?"
"Then you have been away from Japan for some time?"
"Of course. I could not be in London and in this country very well," replied Round, with a sickly smile.
"It is certainly strange," remarked Grant, reading the letter again. "Have you a twin brother, sir?"