“To-morrow, more than likely, will be a busy day,” said he, “and it’s always best to prepare for such a little ahead.”
“What do you expect to happen?” asked Mr. Scanlon, curiously.
“Anything. But one thing will almost surely take place. And that is: the Campe matter will be solved for good and all.”
CHAPTER XIX
IN WHICH ASHTON-KIRK PAYS HIS SECOND VISIT TO SCHWARTZBERG
SCANLON was not at all an impatient man, but the length of time consumed by Ashton-Kirk next morning over his toilet and his breakfast rather put him on edge.
“I like to see a man fussy about his appearance,” said he to himself. “It’s a sign that he’s in health. Breakfast is also a good sign. The fellow that can cheerfully face his morning meal is usually all right inside. But both things can be carried to extremes. When there’s pressing matters to be carried through what matter how you look; when a puzzle of weeks’ standing is about to turn over on its edge and give a last kick, a chop, an egg and a roll shouldn’t be the things to interfere with its doing.”
But though the big man was in a highly excited state, Ashton-Kirk was as calm as an August afternoon. He smoked a good-sized cigar after breakfast and read the newspapers. To the amazement of Mr. Scanlon he even showed interest in such things as the tariff, the building of a new cup defender, and the international aspect of canal tolls.
However, at about ten o’clock a long telegram came; when he read this his inactivity ceased; at once he rang for his car, and when it arrived he and the big man got in. It was a brisk, sunny November day, and they sped through the city streets and finally into the country roads with that smoothness and ease possible to the modern automobile. They flashed by the little station at Marlowe Furnace and across the covered bridge; then, as they climbed the first hill on the west bank they sighted the towers of Schwartzberg.
“And also two very industrious surveyors,” said Ashton-Kirk, his keen eye picking out two small figures in the distance, who appeared deeply absorbed in the measuring of some land.
Mr. Scanlon was pleased with the whole idea, and said so.