“Mr. Macdonald has evidently been detained,” said the law clerk as he looked at the huge silver watch he had carried through all his adventures. “He told me to find you and bring you here, and promised to join us almost immediately.”
“He must have a great many things on his mind to-day,” I replied. “But, tell me, why did he request my presence?”
“It was my suggestion, Mr. Carew. You have always shown a keen interest in the matter, and I thought you would like to see if this last straw to which I am clinging amounts to anything.”
“You are quite right,” said I. “It was thoughtful of you to remember me, and I am very anxious to know the result of your search.”
This, I must confess, was a polite evasion of truth. I had much rather have been with Flora, whom I had seen for only a few moments since the previous evening.
“I am by no means sanguine of success,” the law-clerk resumed. “There is but a meagre chance. And yet I feel a sort of presentiment that—Ah, here he comes now!”
As he spoke the door opened, and Macdonald entered the room. I saw at a glance, and with some surprise, that he was in good spirits.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting for me,” he began. “I had some urgent matters to attend to. I turned in long after you, Carew, and slept but two hours. Have you seen anything of Captain Rudstone?”
“No,” Mr. Burley and I answered together.
“He is doubtless in bed yet, he needed rest,” said the factor. “I had his whole story from him this morning.”