It was repeated and he turned and said: "Come in!" Hubbard advanced with a note upon a salver.
"Mrs.Ballantyne asked me to give you this at once, sir." Thresk stared at the butler.

The name was so apposite to his thoughts that he could not believe it had been uttered.

But the salver was held out to him and the handwriting upon the envelope removed his doubts.

He took it up, said "Thank you" in an absent voice and waited until the door was closed again and he was alone.

The last time he had seen that writing was eighteen months ago.