Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon.

Rodman, who had been spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order.

He, Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into the library to smoke a cigar and meditate.

The main subject of his meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the course of the afternoon.

But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it was well to get off hand.