The girl turned to Annan: “Mr. Smull wired me that he’d meet our train.... So thank you, too—for asking me.... I’m so sorry you have troubled to keep a taxi waiting for me——”
Smull, always smiling, turned to Annan: “Can’t we drop you somewhere, old chap?”
Annan said: “Thanks, no.” And, looking at Eris with cool curiosity, he took off his hat.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” he said. “I hope I may see you while you’re here. Good-night.”
“Good-night,” she replied, as though slightly confused.
Annan bowed pleasantly, including them both, and turned to the left along the rope. The girl went rather slowly away beside Smull, followed by the red-cap with her luggage.
Outside the station, on the ramp above, Annan found his taxi and got into it. All the way home he stared persistently at the chauffeur’s frowsy head; but, whatever his thoughts, nothing on his smoothly composed features betrayed them.
As he entered his house the telephone was ringing, and he went to the lower one in the butler’s pantry.
“Barry!”
“Yes.”