"But apart from your accident you were out of your calculations."
"A little. When you are dependent to so large an extent upon other people, it is impossible to be absolutely sure as to dates."
"Then your six months may run into nine months?"
"Oh, no; six months more gives a wide margin for every contingency."
Muller withdrew from the fire and dropped into an easy-chair that Rufus had pulled round for him.
For a moment or two there was silence, then Muller, diving his hand into his breast-pocket, said in his most casual tone, "You don't mind my having a smoke, do you?"
"My dear fellow, I beg your pardon," Rufus said, hurriedly, "but the truth is I was waiting for supper; won't you have something to eat first? The cold drive ought to have given you an appetite!"
"Well, now that you mention it, I think I do feel a bit peckish."
"You will have to be content with simple fare, but such as I have, etc.," and he went out of the room to hunt up Mrs. Tuke.
Rufus watched his guest narrowly while he ate, and felt sure that he owed this visit not to the proximity of Longridge, but to some other cause that had not yet been revealed.