“This man and I have a little private business together.”
He spoke firmly, and Clarence knew by his tone that further remonstrance would be unavailing, so with a dissatisfied look he left the room.
“Now, sir,” said Stephen Ray sharply, when his son had taken his departure. “I gave you ten minutes. You will need to be expeditious.”
“It will take more than ten minutes—what I have to say,” returned Bolton coolly. “I am rather tired of standing, so you will excuse me if I sit down.”
As he spoke he dropped into a comfortable chair three feet from his host.
“Confound his impudence!” thought Ray, much annoyed.
“I think we had better go indoors,” he said.
He did not care to be seen in an apparently friendly conversation with a man like Bolton.
“I think myself it may be better.”
He followed Ray into a room which the latter used as a library and office, and took care to select a comfortable seat.