“No, sir.�
“Not to get your luncheon?�
“No, sir. I directed Christopher, the footman, to bring me some tea and toast and marmalade, which I ate there, at the window.�
“Is that your general habit?�
“Not at all; but Mr. Lynne had directed me to watch out for the lady he expected to call upon him. I thought it best to be at the door to receive her myself, rather than to permit Christopher to do it. I thought—well, to tell you the truth, I thought from the manner in which Mr. Lynne mentioned the subject to me, that the lady might be a particular friend.â€�
“I see. It was merely your intention to be discreet?�
“Yes, sir.�
“And when you left your post at the window of the reception room—what then?â€�
“I did not leave it till the hour for Mr. Lynne’s medicine. I came directly here to this room to discover that Mr. Lynne was not here.�
The door opened again at that moment, and Patsy entered the room. He was followed by the gardener, whom he had evidently sought in the meantime, and he said, as he entered: