Haywood stood and reflected a moment. Then he said to Barker, who had turned to depart:
“Well—ah—Barker, wait a moment. Did two young men visit your master this morning?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Could you tell me their names?”
“Well, not knowing ’em, I couldn’t.”
“Did he see them?”
“Yes, sir, they were in his room with him more’n an hour.”
“Ah! You don’t know what their business was, of course? That is, you didn’t happen to overhear any of their conversation?”
“No, sir, only at first there was some pretty loud words passed between them, and afterward there was a good deal of talking in an ordinary tone.”
“Yes. Well it’s nothing in particular to me. I thought possibly they might be a couple of friends of mine whom I expect to visit me. And, by the way, Barker, you needn’t say anything about what I’ve been asking you. Here’s a dollar. I’ve been intending to make you a present for a long time.”