“Come at half-past ten,” said Virginia; and Wade hurried down town to see Norton.
He stopped at his office just long enough to write a note to Stephen, whom he asked to drop in on him at half-past ten the next day, and to wait there for him until he came. He wanted to get him out of the way until Virginia should have had her interview with Benson, when it would be too late for him to interfere to any purpose.
The next morning, assisted by Jane, Virginia dressed for the ordeal with more than her usual care.
“Where is Stephen?” she asked of the latter.
“He has just gone to see Mr. Wade, dear. He had a note from him this morning asking him to call at the office, so he told me.”
By turns Virginia was hot and cold, but her composure was steady and unshaken, though when they heard the carriage drive up to the gate, she sat down abruptly and stared rather helplessly at Jane; yet a moment later when she descended the stairs, all her firmness had returned.
On the way downtown Wade carefully outlined the points she was to cover.
“You think you can do it, Mrs. Landray?” he asked anxiously; “You don't think it will be too much for you?”
“It is nothing I should care to do for the pleasure of it,” said Virginia, with a gleam of nervous humour at the thought. She set her lips firmly. “I think I can remember all you say. You will go in with me?”
“Oh, yes, you don't think I'd desert you?” he said reproachfully. He was in a fever of excitement, though no one would have guessed it from his manner.