and taking out a document he began to puzzle over it attentively.

Presently Simmons announced that Mr. Bellamy was waiting.

"Show him in at once," said the old man briskly.



CHAPTER XI

It was some minutes past seven that evening when the lawyer left, and
he had not been gone a quarter of an hour before a hired gig drove up
to the door containing Philip, who had got back from town in the worst
of bad tempers, and, as no conveyance was waiting for him, had been
forced to post over from Roxham. Apparently his father had been
expecting his arrival, for the moment the servant opened the door he
appeared from his study, and addressed him in a tone that was as near
to being jovial as he ever went.

"Hallo, Philip, back again, are you? Been up to town, I suppose, and
driven over in the 'George' gig? That's lucky; I wanted to speak to
you. Come in here, there's a good fellow, I want to speak to you."

"Why is he so infernally genial?" reflected Philip. "Timeo Danaos et
dona ferentes;" then aloud, "All right, father; but if it is all the
same to you, I should like to get some dinner first."

"Dinner! why, I have had none yet; I have been too busy. I shall not
keep you long; we will dine together presently."