In a few minutes more she was seated in the brougham which was fast making its way to Mr Merton's bank in the City.
CHAPTER IV.—THE JOURNEY.
Mr Merton was sitting in the private office of his counting-house with a large book open before him. Just as he was in the middle of some calculation which, to judge from the expression of his face, was pretty abstruse, the door opened and a clerk entered. The banker looked up with no appearance of being pleased at the interruption.
'What is it, Mr Chester?' he said, rather angrily.
'There is a young lady, sir, who says she must see you as soon as possible, and alone.'
'O nonsense. I can't possibly attend to her. Don't you know who she is?'
'No, sir; she wouldn't give me her name, nor tell me her business. I said that I was sure you couldn't see her; but she said it was absolutely necessary that you should do so, and that you would know her directly.'
'You must tell her that it is out of the question for me to see her, if she will not send word who she is, or what she wants.'
'There's no good, sir; I have told her so. But she is quite determined to come; and I thought I had better speak to you, as it seemed so strange to have her waiting about there.'
'Well, in that case I suppose you must shew her in.'