At last a voice spoke to him, but it was again the voice of the servant.
"The Memsahib very sorry, sir, but cannot speak to any one just now;" and he heard the jar of the instrument as the receiver at the other end was sharply hung up and the connection broken.
Thresk came out from the telephone-box with a face puzzled and very grave.

Mrs.Repton refused to speak to him! It was a fact, an inexplicable fact, and it alarmed him.

It was impossible to believe that mere reflection during the last twenty-four hours had brought about so complete a revolution in her feelings.

He to whom she had passionately cried "Write! Write!" only yesterday could hardly be barred out from mere speech with her to-day for any fault of his.

He had done nothing, had seen no one.