The young man’s face, hitherto thoughtfully sad, changed to an expression of bitterness; he muttered what seemed to be angry and contemptuous words, then averted his eyes and walked on.  He entered the village street and passed along it for some distance, his fixed gaze appearing studiously to avoid the people who stood about or walked by him.  There was a spot of warm colour on his cheeks; he held himself very upright and had a painfully self-conscious air.

He stopped before a dwelling-house, rang the bell, and made inquiry whether Mr. Mutimer was at home.  The reply being affirmative, he followed the servant up to the first floor.  His name was announced at the door of a sitting-room, and he entered.

Two men were conversing in the room.  One sat at the table with a sheet of paper before him, sketching a rough diagram and scribbling notes; this was Richard Mutimer.  He was dressed in a light tweed suit; his fair moustache and beard were trimmed, and the hand which rested on the table was no longer that of a daily-grimed mechanic.  His linen was admirably starched; altogether he had a very fresh and cool appearance.  His companion was astride on a chair, his arms resting on the back, a pipe in his mouth.  This man was somewhat older than Mutimer; his countenance indicated shrewdness and knowledge of the world.  He was dark and well-featured, his glossy black hair was parted in the middle, his moustache of the cut called imperial, his beard short and peaked.  He wore a canvas jacket, a white waistcoat and knickerbockers; at his throat a blue necktie fluttered loose.  When Hubert’s name was announced by the servant, this gentleman stopped midway in a sentence, took his pipe from his lips, and looked to the door with curiosity.

Mutimer rose and addressed his visitor easily indeed, but not discourteously.

’How do you do, Mr. Eldon?  I’m glad to see that you are so much better.  Will you sit down?  I think you know Mr. Rodman, at all events by name?’

Hubert assented by gesture.  He had come prepared for disagreeable things in this his first meeting with Mutimer, but the honour of an introduction to the latter’s friends had not been included in his anticipations.  Mr. Rodman had risen and bowed slightly.  His smile carried a disagreeable suggestion from which Mutimer’s behaviour was altogether free; he rather seemed to enjoy the situation.

For a moment there was silence and embarrassment.  Richard overcame the difficulty.

‘Come and dine with me to-night, will you?’ he said to Rodman.  ‘Here, take this plan with you, and think it over.’

‘Pray don’t let me interfere with your business,’ interposed Hubert, with scrupulous politeness.  ‘I could see you later, Mr. Mutimer.’

‘No, no; Rodman and I have done for the present,’ said Mutimer, cheerfully.  ‘By-the-by,’ he added, as his right-hand man moved to the door, ’don’t forget to drop a line to Slater and Smith.  And, I say, if Hogg turns up before two o’clock, send him here; I’ll be down with you by half-past.’