No one paid any attention to the opening of the door.
‘Is Mr Wrentham in?’ inquired Mr Hadleigh.
At the sound of his voice, one of the clerks advanced obsequiously.
‘Yes, sir. He is engaged at present; but I will send in your name.’
He knew who the visitor was; and after rapidly writing the name on a slip of paper, took it into an inner room. Mr Hadleigh glanced over some bills which were lying on the counter announcing the dates of sailing of a number of A1 clippers and first-class screw-steamers to all parts of the world.
The clerk reappeared, and with a polite, ‘Will you walk in, sir?’ held the door of the inner room open till Mr Hadleigh passed in, and then closed it.
Mr Wrentham rose from his table, holding out his hand. ‘Glad to see you here, Mr Hadleigh—very glad. I hope it is business that brings you?’
‘Yes—important business,’ was the answer.