The Metropolitan Store at Trumet was the one thoroughly satisfactory spot on the checkered map of Daniel Dott's existence at the present time. Nathaniel Bangs was making a success of that store. He reported each week and the reports showed increasing business and a profit, small as yet, but a profit nevertheless.
So the captain was only too glad to speak of the store and did so. John appeared to listen, but his answers and comments were absent-minded. He accepted a fresh cigar, at his host's invitation, but he permitted it to go out.
At half-past ten the doorbell rang. Daniel sprang to his feet.
“Here they are!” he declared. “Gertie come home early, just as she said she would. That's 'cause she wanted to see you, John. Hi!” shouting at Mr. Hapgood, who had long since given up the search for the missing pocketbook and had been dozing upstairs, “Hi! you needn't mind. Go aloft again! Go below! Go somewhere! We don't need you. I'll let 'em in, myself.”
The butler, looking surprised, obeyed orders and went—somewhere. The captain flung open the door.
“Well!” he hailed. “Here you are! And pretty early for Chapter night, too. We're waitin' for you, John and I. Shall I pay the cab man?”
Serena, the first to enter, answered.
“No,” she said, “he is already paid.”
“That so? Did you pay him, Serena? Thought that was my job usually. I—” Then, in a tone go entirely different that John Doane, in the drawing-room, noticed the change, he added, “Oh! oh! I, see.”
“Come in,” went on Serena. “Come right in, Cousin Percy.”