"I will return in a few minutes." Tavernake attempted to follow his example.
"There is no occasion for your friend to leave," he protested.

"If you have any instructions for us, a note to the office will always bring some one here to see you." She sat up on the couch and smiled at him.

His obvious embarrassment amused her.

It was a new sort of game, this, altogether.
"Come, Mr.Tavernake," she said, "three minutes more won't matter, will it?
I will not keep you longer than that, I promise." He came reluctantly a few steps back.
"I am sorry," he explained, "but we really are busy this morning." "This is business," she declared, still smiling at him pleasantly.

"My sister has filled you with suspicions about me.