The answer returned was that Mr.
Lawrence hoped I would be so good as to leave a message or a note with the servant, as he could attend to no business at present.
'He may as well see me as you,' said I; and, stepping past the astonished footman, I boldly rapped at the door, entered, and closed it behind me.
The room was spacious and handsomely furnished--very comfortably, too, for a bachelor.

A clear, red fire was burning in the polished grate: a superannuated greyhound, given up to idleness and good living, lay basking before it on the thick, soft rug, on one corner of which, beside the sofa, sat a smart young springer, looking wistfully up in its master's face--perhaps asking permission to share his couch, or, it might be, only soliciting a caress from his hand or a kind word from his lips.
The invalid himself looked very interesting as he lay reclining there, in his elegant dressing-gown, with a silk handkerchief bound across his temples.

His usually pale face was flushed and feverish; his eyes were half closed, until he became sensible of my presence--and then he opened them wide enough: one hand was thrown listlessly over the back of the sofa, and held a small volume, with which, apparently, he had been vainly attempting to beguile the weary hours.

He dropped it, however, in his start of indignant surprise as I advanced into the room and stood before him on the rug.

He raised himself on his pillows, and gazed upon me with equal degrees of nervous horror, anger, and amazement depicted on his countenance.
'Mr.Markham, I scarcely expected this!' he said; and the blood left his cheek as he spoke.
'I know you didn't,' answered I; 'but be quiet a minute, and I'll tell you what I came for.' Unthinkingly, I advanced a step or two nearer.