"
"Go at once," said the secretary.
Simpkins looked round him for sympathy, but got none. Public opinion
was dead against him. The mention of Miss King, whom nobody knew,
suggested the possibility of some horrible and deeply interesting
scandal. Simpkins got down from his ladder. Meldon at once took him
by the arm and led him away.
"Where's your bicycle?" he said.
"What on earth do you want with me?" said Simpkins. "It's quite
intolerable--"
"Miss King is waiting for you," said Meldon. "She expects you this
afternoon, and if you start at once you'll just be there in time."
"But I've no engagement with Miss King."
"You have not," said Meldon, "at present. But you soon will have an
engagement of the most solemn and enduring kind."
"What on earth do you mean?"
"Look here," said Meldon. "There's no use beating about the bush when
we haven't a moment to spare. You gave me to understand that you
wanted to marry Miss King."
"I didn't. All I said was--"
"That won't do," said Meldon. "You may think that you can play fast
and loose with a poor girl's affections in that sort of way, and so you
might if she was lonely and unprotected.
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