“What?” cried Colonel Kingsward, in a voice like a trumpet; but the man stood his ground. “The gentleman did call, sir, yesterday. He has called two or three times; once when you were in the country. He seemed very anxious to see you. I said two o’clock for a general thing, but you have been leaving the office earlier for a day or two.” “You are very impertinent to say anything of the kind, or to give anyone information of my private movements; see that it never occurs again. And as for this gentleman,” he held up his card for a moment, looked at it contemptuously and then pitched it once more into the fireplace, “be so good as to understand that I will not see him, whether he comes at two or at any other hour.” “Am I to tell him so, sir?” said the man, annoyed. “Of course you are to tell him so; and mind you don’t bring me any message or explanation. I will not see him--that is enough; now you can go.” “Shall I---- say you’re too busy, Colonel, or just going out, or engaged----?” “No!” shouted Colonel Kingsward, with a force of breath which blew the attendant away like a strong wind. The Colonel returned to his work and his correspondence with an irritation and annoyance which even to himself seemed beyond the occasion. Bee’s old lover, he supposed, had taken courage to make another attempt; but nothing would induce him to change his former decision. He would not hear a word, not a word! A kind of panic mingled in his hasty impulse of rage. He would not so much as see the fellow--give him any opportunity of renewing---- Was it his suit to Bee? Was it something else indefinite behind? Colonel Kingsward did not very well know, but he was determined on one thing--not to allow the presence of this intruder, not to hear a word that he had to say.