“Same here. I don’t often take sudden fancies, Jim, but I knew your uncle, and I’d bet consider’ble on any member of his family. And I was kind of interested in that novel of yours. You haven’t said you’d come again. Will you?”
Pearson was much embarrassed.
“I should like to come, immensely,” he said, with an earnestness unmistakable; “but—but, to be honest, Captain Warren, there is a reason, one which I may tell you sometime, but can’t now—neither Miss Warren nor her brother have any part in it—which makes me reluctant to visit you here. Won’t you come and see me at the boarding house? Here’s the address. Will you come?”
“Sartin! I figured on doin’ it, if you gave me the chance.”
“Thank you, you’ll be welcome. Of course it is only a boarding house, and not a very good one. My own room is—well, different from this.”
“Yup. Maybe that’s why I expect to feel at home in it. Good night, Jim. Thank you for callin’. Shall I ring for the Commodore to pilot you out?”
“No, I can find my way. I—Someone is coming.”
From the hall came the clang of the elevator door and the sound of voices. Before the captain or his friend could move, Caroline, Stephen, Mrs. Corcoran Dunn, and Malcolm entered. Caroline was the first to reach the library. Her entrance brought her face to face with Pearson.
“I beg your pardon,” she began. “I did not know there was anyone here.”
“It’s only a friend of mine, Caroline,” explained her uncle, quickly. “Just callin’ on me, he was.”