On a cold and frosty morning in November Anstice was sitting over his solitary breakfast when the telephone-bell rang; and he left his coffee to grow cold while he answered the summons.
It was Sir Richard who was speaking; and even over the wire Anstice thought he detected an unusual note in the older man's voice.
"That you, Anstice? Are you busy, or can you spare me a few minutes this morning?"
"I'll come to Greengates, of course, if you want me, Sir Richard," said Anstice immediately. "But I hope you are not ill--nor Lady Laura?"
"No, my sister's all right--so am I." There was a pause. "But I--well, I'm rather worried, and I want to see you."
"Very well, sir. I'll be round at eleven. Will that suit you?"
"Yes, eleven will do well. Au revoir till then," and Sir Richard rang off with a promptitude which forbade further discussion for the moment.
As he went back to his cooling coffee Anstice wondered vaguely what Sir Richard could have to say; but since speculation was mere idle waste of time he dismissed the matter from his mind and finished his breakfast in haste.
It was nearly noon when he drove his car up to the great hall door of Greengates; but the words of apology for his tardy arrival died on his lips when he caught sight of Sir Richard's face.
"I say, I'm afraid you're ill, after all!" Anstice was genuinely concerned; and Sir Richard's strained features relaxed into a smile.
"No, I'm perfectly well. Only, as I told you, I have been upset this morning; and--well, I'll explain and you will see there is something to worry about."
Without more ado he walked over to his substantial roll-top desk, and unlocking a drawer took from thence an envelope which he handled gingerly as though it were unpleasing to him.
From the envelope he drew a sheet of thin paper; and Anstice, watching him closely, felt still more mystified by his distasteful expression.
For a moment Sir Richard hesitated, still holding the sheet by the tips of his fingers. Then, as though he had taken a sudden resolve, he turned to Anstice abruptly.
"Look here, Anstice, this abominable thing reached me this morning. Now of course I don't need you to tell me that the proper place for it is the fire, and if it had not been for one circumstance connected with it, it would have been in the flames by now. But as things are"--he broke off suddenly and held the thin sheet out to the other man--"well, read it, and then tell me what you think is the best course to pursue."