and harder for him to control these reflexes. He turned on his
heel, tossing to the servant over his shoulder: "Very good. Put
off dinner."

Down his spine he felt the man's injured stare. Mr. Granice had
always been so mild-spoken to his people--no doubt the odd change
in his manner had already been noticed and discussed below
stairs. And very likely they suspected the cause. He stood
drumming on the writing-table till he heard the servant go out;
then he threw himself into a chair, propping his elbows on the
table and resting his chin on his locked hands.

Another half hour alone with it!

He wondered irritably what could have detained his guest. Some
professional matter, no doubt--the punctilious lawyer would have
allowed nothing less to interfere with a dinner engagement, more
especially since Granice, in his note, had said: "I shall want a
little business chat afterward."

But what professional matter could have come up at that
unprofessional hour? Perhaps some other soul in misery had
called on the lawyer; and, after all, Granice's note had given no
hint of his own need! No doubt Ascham thought he merely wanted
to make another change in his will. Since he had come into his
little property, ten years earlier, Granice had been perpetually
tinkering with his will.

Suddenly another thought pulled him up, sending a flush to his
sallow temples. He remembered a word he had tossed to the lawyer