"Some things came up at Albany," he replied vaguely. "I shall have to go back to-morrow."
"What is it?" his wife demanded quickly.
"Will you give me a cigarette, Tom?" he asked equably, indicating that he preferred not to mention his business, whatever it might be. Cairy handed him his cigarette case.
"These are so much better than the brand Con supplies me with," he observed lightly.
He examined the cigarette closely, then lit it, and remarked:—
"The train was beastly hot. You seem very comfortable here."
Cairy threw away his cigarette and said good-by.
"Tom," Conny called from the door, as he descended, "don't forget the dinner." She turned to Percy,—"Tom is taking me to dinner to-morrow."
There was silence between husband and wife until the door below clicked, and then Conny murmured interrogatively, "Well?"
"I came back," Percy remarked calmly, "because I made up my mind that there is something rotten on in that Commission."