Hardly himself, sir." "Indeed, show him in," said Mr.Taynton.
A moment afterward the door burst open and banged to again behind Morris.
High colour flamed in his face, his black eyes sparkled with vivid dangerous light, and he had no salutation for his old friend.
"I've come on a very unpleasant business," he said, his voice not in control.
Mr.Taynton got up.

He had only had one moment of preparation and he thought, at any rate, that he knew for certain what this unpleasant business must be.

Evidently Mills had given him away.

For what reason he had done so he could not guess; after his experience of yesterday it might have been from pure devilry, or again he might have feared that in desperation, Taynton would take that extreme step of prosecuting him for blackmail.

But, for that moment Taynton believed that Morris's agitation must be caused by this, and it says much for the iron of his nerve that he did not betray himself by a tremor.
"My dear Morris," he said, "I must ask you to pull yourself together.