He entered into a fuller description of Gilbert Grail. The landlady identified the caller as Grail beyond all doubt. 'What day was it?' 'Why, sir, it 'ud be Wednesday; yes, Wednesday.' 'H'm! And you told him I had left Jersey?' 'Yes, sir. He said he knew that, and that--' 'Said he knew it?' repeated Egremont, astonished. 'Yes, sir, and that he wished to see if you had got home again.' 'Has he been since?' 'No, sir, but--I was coming in a night or two after, sir, and I saw him standing on the opposite side of the way, looking at the house. He hadn't called, however, and he didn't again.' Egremont bent his eyes on the ground, and delayed a moment before asking: 'Who else has been?' 'A gentleman; I don't know who it was. The servant went to the door. He said he only wished to know if you were in town or not. He wouldn't leave a name.' Egremont's face changed to annoyance. He did not care to pursue the subject. 'Let me have something to eat, please,' he said. The landlady having withdrawn, he at once sat down to his desk and wrote a note. It was to Grail, and ran in substance: 'I am just back from the Continent. Am I right in thinking that it is you who have called here twice in my absence? If so, your second call was at a time when I hoped you were out of London. Do let me see you as soon as possible. Of course you received my letter from Jersey? Shall I come to you, or will you come here? I will stay in to-night. I send this by a messenger, as I wish you to receive it immediately.' The landlady had a son at home, a lad of sixteen. Having discovered that the boy's services were available, Egremont gave him directions. He was to take a cab and drive to the library in Brook Street. If he should not find Grail there, he was to proceed to Walnut Tree Walk. If Grail would come back with him, so much the better. Walter was left to refresh himself after his journey. He changed his clothes, and presently sat down to a meal. But appetite by this time failed him. He had the table cleared ten minutes after it was laid. He was in the utmost uneasiness. Could it be Grail who had called? He tried to assure himself that it must be a mistake. How could Grail expect him to be in town, after reading that letter from Jersey? If indeed the visitor were Gilbert, some catastrophe had befallen. But he would not entertain such a fear. Then the second caller; that might be any acquaintance. Still, it was strange that he too had refused his name. You know the state of mind in which, whatever one thinks of, a pain, a fear, draws the thought another way. It was so with Egremont. The two mysterious callers and the annoying scene at the railway station plagued him successively, and for background to them all was a shadow of indefinite apprehension. He could scarcely endure his impatience. It seemed as though the messenger would never return. The lad presented himself, however, without undue delay. He had found Mr. Grail, he said, at the second address.