The porter, mounting the stone staircase, suddenly came upon Sergius standing there like a stone figure.
“Lord, sir!” he ejaculated. “You give me a start!” His voice was loud from astonishment.
“Hush!” Sergius whispered. “Go down at once and say that I've gone out!”
The man turned to obey, but Anthony Endover was half-way up the stairs.
“It's all right,” he exclaimed, as he met the porter.
He had passed him in an instant and arrived at the place where Sergius was standing.
“Sergius,” he cried, and there was a great music of relief in his voice. “Hulloa! Now you're not going out.”
“Yes, I am, Anthony.”
“But I want to talk to you tremendously. Where are you going?”