Winnie was first to recover herself. Turning to Alan, she murmured politely:
“I think my time has expired; good evening, Mr. Warburton.”
As she swept from the room, the stranger approached Alan, saying:
“This, then, is Mr. Warburton. My name is Grip, sir; Augustus Grip.”
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MR. GRIP FINDS A “SKELETON”.
This sudden appearance of Mr. Grip was not precisely to Alan Warburton’s taste, and he eyed his visitor with a somewhat haughty air, while he said:
“Mr. Grip is prompt, to say the least. I believe that the hour—”
“Hour appointed, between three and four—precisely, sir; precisely. But my time’s valuable, Mr. Warburton; valuable, sir! And it’s better too early than too late. Everything’s cut and dried, and nothing else on hand for this hour; couldn’t afford to waste it.”