Instead he pushed forward a chair.
"Thanks," said Mortimer sitting down heavily, "I've had quite a
walk across the fen. It's pleasant out but damp! I suppose you
didn't get my letter?"
"Which letter was that" asked Desmond.
"Why the one asking you to let me know when you would be back so
that we might meet at last!"
Desmond shook his head.
"No," he said, "I didn't get that one. It must have gone astray.
As a matter of fact," he added, "I only got back this morning."
"Oh, well then, I am fortunate in my visit," said Mortimer. "Did
everything go off all right?"
"Oh, yes," Desmond hastened to say, not knowing what he was
talking about, "everything went off all right."
"I don't in the least grudge you the holiday," the other
observed, "one should always be careful to pay the last respects
to the dead. It makes a good impression. That is so important in
some countries!"
He beamed at Desmond through his spectacles.
"Was there anything left in your absence?" he asked, "no, there
would be nothing; I suppose!"
Desmond took a firm resolution. He must know what the man was
driving at.
"I don't know what you mean," he said bluntly.
"God bless my soul!" ejaculated Mortimer turning round to stare
at him through his grotesque glasses.
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