He shook his head at hearing that, and said he wished to speak to me in private.

I showed him into the library.

One of the men in plain clothes followed us, and sat in the hall.

The other waited with the carriage.
"I was just going out, sir," I said, as I set a chair for him, "to speak to Mr.Robert Nicholson about a very extraordinary circumstance--" "I know what you refer to," said Mr.Philip, cutting me short rather abruptly; "and I must beg, for reasons which will presently appear, that you will make no statement of any sort to me until you have first heard what I have to say.

I am here on a very serious and a very shocking errand, which deeply concerns your mistress and you." His face suggested something worse than his words expressed.