"I believe this is your handwriting, Trenchard," he said gravely. "I found them in the waste-paper basket, where they had doubtless gone by mistake."
Trenchard took them and then blushed violently. The top of the first page was headed:
"Chapter XV. The Mystery of the Blue Closet."
"Thanks," he said shortly, and took them to his own table.
There was a silence for a long time while Henry, lost in a miserable vague dream, gazed with unperceptive eyes at the portrait of the stout, handsome Archibald Constable. Then came the luncheon-bell, and after that quite a horrible meal alone with Lady Bell-Hall, who only said two things from first to last. One: "The operation's to be on Tuesday morning, I understand." The other: "I see coal's gone up again."
After luncheon he felt that he could endure the terrible house no longer. He must get out into the air. He must try and see Christina.
Spencer returned from his luncheon just as Harry was leaving.
"Are you going?" he asked.
"Yes, I am," said Henry. "I can't stand this house to-day."