There was perfect silence now for a few moments (the scene was, of course, the library at the Red Gables), too perfect a silence to last very long. Then Michael suddenly burst out in his turn—
‘Are you obliged to finish those wretched calculations to-night? Because, if not, I should like to speak to you.’
Roger threw his pen down.
‘Thankful for an excuse to let them alone,’ said he. ‘What’s up?’
‘I told you how I came to meet Miss Askam this afternoon.’
‘You did.’
‘You may be aware that from the Black Bank Ford to Thorsgarth is a good five miles?’
‘It is every bit of it. I admit it freely.’
‘Perhaps you can also comprehend that we did not ride all that distance in unbroken silence?’
‘Rather stupid of you both, if you did, I should say.’