"But there wouldn't be," said Cranbourne. "He promised to send a message when he was nearing home. It's time he was here." The little man was plainly agitated.
Hilbert Torrington smiled at him over the carefully arranged playing cards.
"They tell me, Cassis, your wife has been indisposed. I trust she is better."
"I really don't know," came the irritable response. "You can hardly expect——"
"These trifles so easily escape us," murmured the old man.
Nugent Cassis scowled and turned to Cranbourne.
"How's that other fellow getting on? What's his name—Altar?"
"He's holding out."
"At Laurence's house?"
"I believe so."