To-morrow evening we shall have to give a full explanation, so you have another twenty-four hours in which to think it over.

And, meanwhile, I am going to take you to my club to dine.

I think we shall be pretty safe there from Mrs.Schallibaum." He sat down and wrote a letter, which was apparently quite a short one, and having addressed and stamped it, prepared to go out.
"Come," said he, "let us away to 'the gay and festive scenes and halls of dazzling light.' We will lay the mine in the Fleet Street pillar box.
I should like to be in Marchmont's office when it explodes." "I expect, for that matter," said I, "that the explosion will be felt pretty distinctly in these chambers." "I expect so, too," replied Thorndyke; "and that reminds me that I shall be out all day to-morrow, so, if Marchmont calls, you must do all that you can to persuade him to come round after dinner and bring Stephen Blackmore, if possible.

I am anxious to have Stephen here, as he will be able to give us some further information and confirm certain matters of fact." I promised to exercise my utmost powers of persuasion on Mr.Marchmont which I should certainly have done on my own account, being now on the very tiptoe of curiosity to hear Thorndyke's explanation of the unthinkable conclusion at which he had arrived--and the subject dropped completely; nor could I, during the rest of the evening, induce my colleague to reopen it even in the most indirect or allusive manner.
Our explanations in respect of Mr.Marchmont were fully realized; for, on the following morning, within an hour of Thorndyke's departure from our chambers, the knocker was plied with more than usual emphasis, and, on my opening the door, I discovered the solicitor in company with a somewhat older gentleman.

Mr.Marchmont appeared somewhat out of humour, while his companion was obviously in a state of extreme irritation.
"How d'you do, Dr.Jervis ?" said Marchmont as he entered at my invitation.