"These good people probably expect a bit of explanation," he suggested.
"The Rendalls? Not yet! Wait till you've heard everything yourself. Tell 'em then if you like—but I don't think you will."
He looked at me curiously.
"Well," said he, "let's be off then. Don't you even want to say good-bye?"
"I'll send them a Christmas card," I said.
"What, after all the trouble they've taken to round you up?"
"Do you mean to say they sent for you?"
"Rather! Urgent wire."
The prospect of facing my grim host and his disdainful daughter struck me forcibly as less pleasing than ever.
"Come on!" I said. "I'm going to bolt!"