"I must apologize for my intrusion, sir and madame," he declared, looking towards Fenella. "I am a reporter on the staff of the _Daily Unit_, and I am exceedingly anxious to interview--you will pardon me!" With a sudden swift movement he crossed the room, passed into the inner apartment and disappeared. Sabatini rose to his feet. "I propose," he said, "that we complain to the proprietor of this excitable young journalist, and take our coffee in the palm court at the Carlton." Fenella also rose and stepped in front of the looking-glass. "It is good," she declared. "I stay with you for one half hour. Afterwards I have a bridge party. You will come with us, Mr. Chetwode?" Arnold did not at once reply. He was gazing at the inner door. Every moment he expected to hear--what? It seemed to him that tragedy was there, the greatest tragedy of all--the hunting of man! Sabatini yawned. "Those others," he declared, "must settle their own little differences. After all, it is not our affair." CHAPTER XII JARVIS IS JUSTLY DISTURBED It was fully half-past three before Arnold found himself back in Tooley Street. He hung up his coat and hat and was preparing to enter Mr. Weatherley's room when the chief clerk saw him. Mr. Jarvis had been standing outside, superintending the unloading of several dray loads of American bacon. He laid his hand upon Arnold's shoulder. "One moment, Chetwode," he said. "I want to speak to you out here." Arnold followed him to a retired part of the warehouse. Mr. Jarvis leaned against an old desk belonging to one of the porters. "You are very late, Chetwode," he remarked. "I am sorry, but I was detained," Arnold answered. "I will explain it to Mr. Weatherley directly I go in." Mr. Jarvis coughed. "Of course," he said, "as you went out with Mrs. Weatherley I suppose it's none of my business as to your hours, but you must know that to come back from lunch at half-past three is most irregular, especially as you are practically junior in the place." "I quite agree with you," Arnold assented, "but, you see, I really couldn't help myself to-day. I don't suppose it is likely to happen again. Is that all that you wanted to speak to me about?" "Not altogether," Mr. Jarvis admitted. "To tell you the truth," he went on, confidentially, "I wanted to ask you a question or two." "Well, look sharp, then," Arnold said, good-humoredly. "I dare say Mr. Weatherley will be getting impatient, and he probably saw me come in." "I want to ask you," Mr. Jarvis began, impressively, "whether you noticed anything peculiar about the governor's manner this morning?" "I don't think so--not especially," Arnold replied. Mr. Jarvis took off his gold-rimmed spectacles and wiped them carefully.