He was asked to wait, as Lord Claud was expected home shortly, and Tom's face was well known to the valet.

He went up to the familiar room, but noted with surprise how many pictures and curios were missing from their places.

The rooms were comfortable, even luxurious, but they lacked the costly elegance which had characterized them before.

It seemed to Tom as though Lord Claud must have been in need of money, too, and have been selling his valuables to keep himself in funds.

That seemed a strange shift for one to whom the state owed so heavy a debt.
Tom had perhaps sat still waiting for half an hour before the door opened to admit Lord Claud, who came in with a dark look upon his face, and threw down his hat and gloves upon the table with a smothered oath.
Then he saw Tom, and the cloud lightened, although it did not disappear.