I'm going straight home and then to the station." He turned hurriedly away in the direction of his house, and I went off to the office to carry out his instructions.

There was nothing strange in his giving us a holiday--it was a thing he often did in summer, on fine days when we had nothing much to do, and this was a gloriously fine day and the proceedings in court had been so short that it was not yet noon.
So I packed off the two junior clerks and the office lad, and locked up, and went away myself--and in the street outside I met Sir Gilbert Carstairs.

He was coming along in our direction, evidently deep in thought, and he started a little as he looked up and saw me.
"Hullo, Moneylaws!" he said in his off-hand fashion.

"I was just wanting to see you.

I say!" he went on, laying a hand on my arm, "you're dead certain that you've never mentioned to a soul but myself anything about that affair of yours and Crone's--you know what I mean ?" "Absolutely certain, Sir Gilbert!" I answered.