He had ordered a wonderful lunch, and not until they had reached its final stage did he refer again to anything approaching serious conversation.
Then he leaned a little across the table towards her, and she felt the change in his expression and tone, as he began to speak in lowered voice.
"Miss Duge," he said, "I dare say you were surprised at my question to you.

Let me explain.

Your father and several others of us have been allies for some time in some very important matters connected with finance.

For the last few months, however, we have all felt a sort of vague uneasiness one with the other.

Apparently we were all still pulling the same way, yet I think that each one of us had the feeling that there was something wrong.