"Well, what on earth do you think Cardross wants with you?" demanded Portlaw. "Read that telegram again."
Again Malcourt's instinct seemed to warn him to silence. All the same, with a glance at Hamil, he unfolded the bit of yellow paper and read:
"LOUIS MALCOURT,
"Superintendent Luckless Lake,
"Adirondacks.
"Your presence is required at my office in the Shoshone Securities Building on a matter of most serious and instant importance. Telegraph what train you can catch. Mr. Carrick will meet you on the train at Albany.
"NEVILLE CARDROSS.
"Answer Paid."
"Well, what the devil does it mean?" demanded Portlaw peevishly. "I can't spare you now. How can I? Here's Hamil all ready for you to take him about and show him what I want to have done—"
"I wonder what it means," mused Malcourt. "Maybe there's something wrong with the Tressilvain end of the family. The Shoshone Securities people manage her investments here—"
"The way to do is to wire and find out," grumbled Portlaw, leading the way to the luncheon table as a servant announced that function.
For it was certainly a function with Portlaw; all eating was more or less of a ceremony, and dinner rose to the dignity of a rite.