"He is so very exact now," she added.

"He expected to be back home before this"-- how she loved to use that word home--"and so we thought he would be here when you arrived.

But he has been detained at Aspen Vale.

He had a big business deal on--" "A big business deal?
Is he--is he in a large way of business ?" Mona asked almost incredulously.

Shiel Crozier in a large way of business, in a big business deal?
It did not seem possible.