He sprang up, unable to sit quiet, and found himself face to face with Barclay.
‘My dear sir,’ exclaimed the lawyer, ‘what is the matter?’
‘Oh, nothing—nothing,’ said Crauford, rather startled by the sudden apparition. ‘Good-morning, Mr. Barclay; pray sit down.’
The lawyer was as inquisitive as a woman, and he complied immediately.
‘Pardon me,’ he said, ‘but I can hardly believe that. I sincerely hope it is nothing very serious.’
‘It is nothing that can be helped,’ said Fordyce hurriedly; ‘only a difficulty that I am in.’
‘Then I may have arrived in the nick of time,’ said Barclay. ‘Please remember it is my function to help people out of difficulties. Come, come—courage.’
He spoke with a familiarity of manner which Crauford might have resented had he been less absorbed in his misfortunes. He had an overwhelming longing to confide in someone.
‘What does the proverb say? “Two heads are better than one,” eh, Mr. Fordyce?’
Crauford looked at him irresolutely.