Mrs. Grant found the banker in the library, and gave him, in a somewhat modified form, the message Miss Midharst had sent to him. Without saying a word he left the room, following the lady.
"Where is the strange gentleman who wanted to see Miss Midharst, and would not give his name?" asked the lady, as they passed down the corridor leading to the staircase. "I did not see him in the library. Oh, here he is."
They encountered a tall, slight, sad-faced man clad in black.
Mrs. Grant stopped, Mr. Grey fell back a few paces, and the widow said:
"I am sorry Miss Midharst is so much distressed just now that she does not feel equal to seeing you. You will of course understand that the circumstances are very trying upon her."
The stranger bowed, and answered in a low, quiet, full voice:
"I am deeply grieved by Miss Midharst's trouble. I would not think of seeking to intrude upon her but for good reasons. There is no absolute necessity for my seeing her at this moment. Later I hope to have an opportunity of expressing personally to her my sympathy, and of saying what further I wish to say. I am much indebted to you for the effort you have made in my behalf."
He indicated that he had nothing to add, and by keeping bowed showed that he did not desire to detain Mrs. Grant longer.
When she and the banker were out of the stranger's hearing, she said to Grey:
"Do you know who that gentleman is? I have never seen his face before."