Stainton smiled.
"You are always so pleasant, Captain," he said, "that you never intrude. Besides, the earlier the better. As it happens, I was just this moment thinking of you."
Von Klausen bowed. There was a brief pause, the Austrian's blue eyes wandering about the room in an endeavour to escape Stainton's glance, and Stainton's eyes fastened thoughtfully upon the Austrian.
"Well?" asked the husband.
Von Klausen coughed.
"Madame is—is——" he started, but stopped short.
"You asked for me. Did you expect to find her up at this time of day?"
"Oh, no—no: certainly not. Pardon me. I forgot the hour."
"Ah, you often forget the hour, don't you, Captain?"
The Austrian braced himself. He raised his chin defiantly. He met the issue directly.