“What do you want?” he asked crossly.
“I must see Mr. Bliss,” and John pushed past him into the hall.
“Come in the morning.”
“I must see him now.”
“Well, you can't! He's in bed.”
At that moment Mr. Bliss himself appeared at the head of the stairs, dimly visible in a long white sexless garment.
“What is it, Martin?” he asked. “A telegram?”
“It's I, Mr. Bliss,—Norton—the bookkeeper from Bliss, Haviland and Company. I must see you! It's a matter of the utmost importance,” he said earnestly.
“Martin, light the gas in the library. I'll be down in a moment, Mr. Norton.”
Ten minutes later he joined John down-stairs in the library.