Part 48 (1/2)
”Thursday, Friday, Sat.u.r.day,” cried Claud, impatiently. ”What a dawdling old buffer you are! Come, when was it: you must know?”
”Really, sir, I can't be sure.”
”Was it this week?”
”I shouldn't like to say, sir.”
”Well, last week then?”
”It might have been, sir.”
”Yah!” growled Claud. ”Think he's down at Chislehurst?”
”He may be, sir.”
”Yes, and he may be at Jericho.”
”Yes, sir; but you'll excuse me, there was a knock.”
The clerk shuffled off his stool, and went to the door to admit a fresh visitor in the person of Wilton pere.
”Ah, Claud, my boy! You here?”
”Yes, father, I'm here; just come,” said the young man, sulkily.
”Well, found them?”
”Do I look as if I had found them, dad? No.”
”Tut-tut-tut!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Wilton, who looked pale and worn with anxiety.
”Mr Garstang in, Mr Barlow?”
”Yes, sir,” said the clerk; ”shall I say you are here?”
”Ye-es,” said Wilton. ”Take in my card, and say that I shall be obliged if he will give me an interview.”
The old clerk bowed, and left the outer office for the inner, while Wilton turned to his son, to say hastily, ”You may as well come in with me as you are here.”
”Thanks, no; much obliged. What made you come here? You don't think he's likely to know?”
”Yes, I do,” said Wilton, in a low voice. ”I believe young Harry's carried her off, and that he's backing him up. You must come in with me: we must work together.”
”Mr Garstang will see you, gentlemen,” said the old clerk, entering.
”Gentlemen!” muttered Claud angrily, to his father.
”Yes, don't leave me in the lurch, my boy,” whispered Wilton; and Claud noted a tremor in his father's voice, and saw that he looked nervous and troubled.
Wilton made way for his son to pa.s.s in first, the young man drew back for his father, and matters were compromised by their entering together, Garstang, who looked perfectly calm, rising to motion them to seats, which they took; and then there was silence for a few moments, during which Claud sat tapping his teeth with the ivory handle of the stick he carried, keeping his eyes fixed the while upon his father, who seemed in doubt how to begin.