"I'll step along the street and fetch him, myself.

I know he'll be alone just now, because I saw Mallalieu go into the Town Hall ten minutes ago--there's an important committee meeting there this morning over which he has to preside.

Pull yourself together, Bent--Cotherstone may have some explanation of everything." Mallalieu & Cotherstone's office was only a few yards away along the street; Tallington was back from it with Cotherstone in five minutes.
And Brereton, looking closely at Cotherstone as he entered and saw who awaited him, was certain that Cotherstone was ready for anything.

A sudden gleam of understanding came into his sharp eyes; it was as if he said to himself that here was a moment, a situation, a crisis, which he had anticipated, and--he was prepared.

It was an outwardly calm and cool Cotherstone, who, with a quick glance at all three men and at the closed door, took the chair which Tallington handed to him, and turned on the solicitor with a single word.
"Well ?" "As I told you in coming along," said Tallington, "we want to speak to you privately about some information which has been placed in our hands--that is, of course, in Mr.Brereton's and in mine.