"I beg your pardon, sir," he observed, "but this came this afternoon just after you had left. I thought it might be important."
Maurice took the wire, and as he began to open it we resumed our conversation, Miss York demanding a laughing explanation as to how I had been spending my afternoon.
In the middle of my answer, which I must admit was not of a wholly truthful nature, I happened to look up in Maurice's direction.
Over the top of the wire I got a glimpse of his eyes, staring at me with a kind of devilish mixture of hatred, triumph and incredulity. It was only for an instant. As our glances met the expression vanished from his face as though it had been wiped off by a sponge, and with a short laugh he crushed the wire in his hand.
"Well, this is a pretty sort of nuisance," he remarked.
There was a chorus of, "What's the matter?"
"I am afraid I shall have to go up to London to-night. There's—there's some confounded trouble about a trusteeship or something—I don't quite understand from the wire; but they want me to come and talk it over as soon as possible."
Everybody, except myself, hastened to express their sympathy.
"Oh, it doesn't really matter," said Maurice. "I have no doubt I shall be able to get down again to-morrow, or at the latest the day after. You mustn't think of breaking up the party—any of you. I dare say this silly business won't keep me more than a few hours, after all, and Aunt Mary will be only too delighted to look after you. Ah, here she is."
Aunt Mary, who had just joined us from the hall, was immediately acquainted with the news.