It came to him in the shape of a very short note, in the morning, shortly before lunch, and was to the effect that his friends had alighted in the Rue de la Paix the night before.
"We were tired, and I have slept late," said Gordon; "otherwise you should have heard from me earlier.

Come to lunch, if possible.

I want extremely to see you." Bernard, of course, made a point of going to lunch.

In as short a time as possible he found himself in Gordon's sitting-room at the Hotel Middlesex.

The table was laid for the midday repast, and a gentleman stood with his back to the door, looking out of the window.