Who were they, and where were they, and what did they want of him?
He was still groping for the answers when Kitty came toward him. She gave a little cry of dismay when she saw his face.
"You look simply awful, Philip! Is it another of your—"
With Kitty's arrival, Alcorn's premonition of disaster returned. Something was going to happen to him, was happening to him, and unless he moved carefully, it could involve Kitty as well. He had to keep Kitty out of this, which meant that he must stay clear of her until he was safe.
"It's nothing," he said hastily. "I'll call you later, Kitty. I've another appointment now that can't wait."
She put out a hesitant hand. "Philip...."
He wanted desperately to tell her the whole improbable story, to reveal his fears and get the reassurance she was able to give him.
But he couldn't risk involving Kitty in any danger.
"It's nothing," he repeated. He went down the lift quickly because he knew that if he delayed to comfort her, he would never have the courage to go at all.