Peter passed into his office, and set to work to put the loose ends in such shape that nothing should go wrong during his absence. He had not worked long, when one of the boys told him that:
“Mr. Cassius Curlew wants to see you, Mr. Stirling.”
Peter stopped his writing, looking up quickly: “Did he say on what business?”
“No.”
“Ask him, please.” And Peter went on writing till the boy returned.
“He says it’s about the convention.”
“Tell him he must be more specific.”
The boy returned in a moment with a folded scrap of paper.
“He said that would tell you, Mr. Stirling.”
Peter unfolded the scrap, and read upon it: “A message from Maguire.”