He seems very impatient.

He has been out two or three times to know how long I thought you would be." Francis passed down the stone passage and entered his room, a large, shady apartment at the back of the building.

To his surprise it was empty.

He was on the point of calling to his clerk when he saw that the writing-paper on his desk had been disturbed.

He went over and read a few lines written in a boy's hasty writing: DEAR Mr.LEDSAM: I am in a very strange predicament and I have come to ask your advice.
You know my brother Andrew well, and you may remember playing tennis with me last year.