He looked round the room.
"Snug quarters for a bachelor—ah! I lived in lodgings always myself. I thought I heard a woman's voice as I came up-stairs."
"From Sir Richard de Counterpane's rooms down stairs, perhaps. His nurses, I suppose. The poor old man is getting infirm."
"Ay—ay; and your bedroom is there, I suppose?"
Lawrence took the lamp and opened the door. It was a bare, badly furnished room, with a little camp-bedstead, and nothing else hardly. For Lawrence kept his luxurious habits for the day.
Was it pure curiosity that made Gabriel Cassilis look all round the room?
"Ah, hermit-like. Now, I like a large bed. However, I am very glad I came. One word, Colquhoun, is better than a thousand letters; and you are sure you do not misunderstand me?"
"Quite," said Lawrence, taking his hat. "I am going out, too."
"No jealousy at all," said Gabriel Cassilis, going down the stairs.
"Certainly not."