"It can never be that time of day!" exclaimed Mr. Galloway, in
consternation, as he took out his watch. "Sixteen minutes to three! and
I am a minute slow! How has the time passed? I ought to have been at--"
Mr. Galloway brought his words to a standstill, apparently too absorbed
in the railway guide to conclude them. Roland Yorke, who had a free
tongue, even with his master, filled up the pause.
"Were you going out, sir?"
"Is that any business of yours, Mr. Roland? Talking won't fill in that
lease, sir."
"The lease is not in a hurry, sir," returned incorrigible Roland. But
he held his tongue then, and bent his head over his work.
Mr. Galloway dipped his pen in the ink, and copied something from
"Bradshaw" into the closely-written letter, standing at Jenkins's desk
to do it; then he passed the blotting-paper quickly over the words, and
folded the letter.
"Channing," he said, speaking very hastily, "you will see a
twenty-pound bank-note on my desk, and the directed envelope of this
letter; bring them here."
Arthur went, and brought forth the envelope and bank-note. Mr. Galloway
doubled the note in four and slipped it between the folds of the
letter, putting both into the envelope. He had fastened it down, when a
loud noise and commotion was heard in the street. Curious as are said
to be antiquated maidens, Mr. Galloway rushed to the window and threw
it up, his two clerks attending in his wake.
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