"Go on," he said. "I am prepared to listen at any rate...."
He listened. And at 10.30 that morning, he left Saxby--for the South
Coast.
CHAPTER XIX
AN AFFAIR OF STATE
My cousin met me at St. Pancras. I saw him before my own carriage had
reached the platform, peering into the window of every compartment
in his short-sighted way. He recognized me at last with a little wave of
the hand.
"Glad to see you, Hardross! These your things? We'll have a hansom. Where
are you staying?"
"At the club, if I can get a room," I answered. "I shall try there before
I go to an hotel, at any rate."
"Come and have some lunch first," Sir Gilbert said firmly. "You can see
about your room afterwards. Remember your appointment is at three
o'clock."
I acquiesced, and got into a cab with my cousin. I was perfectly aware
that he was almost consumed with curiosity. He scarcely waited until we
were off before he began.
"Hardross!" he asked, "what's up?"
"Nothing particular," I answered lamely.
"Rubbish!" he declared, "you are the last man in the world I should have
expected to see in town the second week in September! You haven't come
for nothing, have you? And then this interview with Lord Polloch.
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