Nancy opened her eyes in astonishment. "Surely he wouldn't be so dishonest!" she exclaimed.
"I hope not," replied Colin; "but, after all, he's a lawyer."
Mark hoisted himself up in his chair. "I protest," he said. "I am not going to have Nancy's ingenuous mind corrupted by any beastly cynicism." He turned to Colin. "And how about you?" he added more seriously. "This infernal business must have played the mischief with all your plans."
"Oh, I'm just marking time," said Colin. "I mean to see this thing through before I attempt to do anything else."
Mark nodded approvingly. "That's right," he remarked. "That's your job, plain enough." He glanced at Nancy. "I'm afraid our idea won't work," he added.
"Is it a secret?" demanded Colin.
"Well, as a matter of fact I was going to ask you whether you could do us a good turn. If you're busy, however——"
"I should have to be devilish busy to let you down," said Colin. "What's the trouble?"
"It's Mary's mother," was the answer. "There's been some unexpected development in the case, and they have got to operate the day after to-morrow. Mary is desperately anxious for me to go up, and I can't possibly get away unless I can find someone to look after the practice. I thought that you might be able to manage it, but——"
"'But' be blowed," interrupted Colin. "I only want to be around in case Marsden needs me, and I shall be quite as handy here as at the Palace Hotel. How long do you expect to be away?"