"The man—gentleman, or whatever he is—who had you called down to him in the library."
"By the way, Maude—yes—you should not dart in when I am engaged with visitors on business."
"Well, I thought it was Mr. Carr," she replied, glancing at his heightened colour. "What did he want?"
"Only to say a word to me on a matter of business."
"It was the same person who upset you so when he called last autumn. You have never been the same man since."
"Don't take fancies into your head, Maude."
"Fancies! you know quite well there is no fancy about it. That man holds some unpleasant secret of yours, I am certain."
"Maude!"
"Will you tell it me?"
"I have nothing to tell."