“He has not been here since four o’clock, sir. He and Miss Hagerston went out to tea and have not been back since. I have an important letter for him and wish he would return.”
It was now Johnson’s turn to look puzzled.
“I met him and Miss Hagerston at tea,” he said at last, “and they invited me to come and dine. I can’t understand it. Anyhow, I had better wait.”
“If you would, sir. As he has invited you to dine he is bound to be back soon.”
Johnson looked again at the man.
“Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”
“Yes, sir, at Fig Tree Court.”
“Of course. I remember.”
He lay back in the deck-chair which he had taken, lit a cigarette, and began carelessly to focus the boats on the river through Preston’s binocular.
At eight o’clock the man came back.