He asked the question after a slight pause, because Castalia remained standing exactly across his path, glancing anxiously up and down the High Street, and apparently oblivious of Diamond's existence. "Oh no! I beg your pardon," she answered, moving aside. As she did so young Ingleby came up, and was about to pass them when Diamond touched him on the shoulder and said, "Ingleby, have you chanced to see Mr. Errington?" "Yes, sir; I saw him going down the High Street not two minutes ago, close to old Maxfield's shop. Do you want him, Mrs. Errington? I can easily catch him if I run." "No, no, no! Don't go! You must not go after him." She walked away without any word or sign of farewell, leaving Diamond and the boy looking after her in surprise. "That is the most disagreeable woman I ever came across!" exclaimed Ingleby, with school-boy frankness. "I hate her stuck-up airs. But Errington is such a capital fellow----! I'd do anything for him." Diamond did not choose to discuss either the husband or the wife with young Ingleby, but he said to himself, as he pursued his homeward way, that Mrs. Errington's manner had been not only disagreeable but very strange. Castalia reached the office and walked in. She entered the inner part that was screened off from the public, and passed Mr. Gibbs, behind his desk, without any recognition. She was about to enter Algernon's private room at the back, when Gibbs, rising and bowing, said "Did you want anything, ma'am? Mr. Errington is not there." "Oh! I'll go in and sit down." Gibbs looked uneasy and doubtful, and presently made an excuse to follow her into the room. Her frequent visits to the office of late by no means pleased Mr. Obadiah Gibbs. "I didn't know how the fire was," said he, poking at the hot coals, and looking furtively at Mrs. Errington. She was seated in her husband's chair in front of his desk. The little secretaire stood on a table at one side of it. "I'm afraid Mr. Errington may not be back very soon," said Gibbs. "Do you know where he's gone?" "Not I, ma'am." "Does he often go away during business hours?" "Why--I don't know what you would call 'often,' ma'am--I crave pardon. I must attend to the office now; there is some one there." And Mr. Gibbs withdrew, leaving the door half open.