"Mission successful," he had wired--"returning France by La Savoie in five days having arranged safe transportation your property--please advise if you can meet me in Paris to receive same or your commands otherwise."
And to this, silence only!--silence to him to whom words of her dictation, however few and terse and filtered through no matter how many indifferent mediums of intelligence, would have been precious beyond expression.
So it was that, as hour followed hour and the tale of them lengthened into days, he fell into a temper of morbid brooding that was little like the man, and instead of faring abroad and seeking what amusement he might find in the most carefree city of the post-War world, shut himself up in his rooms and moped, indifferent to all things but the knocks at his door, the stridulation of the telephone bell that might announce the arrival of the desired message.
And so it was that, when the telephone did ring--at last!--towards noon of that third day, he fairly stumbled over himself in his haste to reach the instrument. But the animation with which he answered the professional voice at the other end of the wire faded very quickly, the look of weariness returned, his accents voiced an indifference fairly desolating.
"Yes?...Oh, yes...Very well...Yes, at once."
He returned to his view from the window, and was hating it with all his heart when a stout knuckling on his door announced his callers.
They filed into the room with a cheerfulness of mien in striking contrast to the weary courtesy with which Lanyard received them: Liane Delorme first, then Monk, then Phinuit, rather bleached of colour and wearing one arm in a sling; all very smart in clothes conspicuously new and as costly as the Avenue afforded, striking figures of contentment in prosperity.
"It is a pleasure indeed," Lanyard gravely acknowledged their several salutations--"not, I must confess, altogether unexpected, but a pleasure none the less."
"So you didn't think we'd be long spotting you in the good little old town?" Phinuit enquired. "Had a notion you thought the best way to lose us would be to put up at this well-known home of the highest prices."
"No," Lanyard replied. "I never thought to be rid of you without one more meeting--"