It was deeply significant that in spite of the gulf which Chance had digged the day-staff of the _Sentinel_, all save two or three of which were not of his estate, had with flattering alacrity obeyed his summons to dine.

But, as he heard in the hall the voice of Chillingworth, the difficulty of his task for the first time swept over him.

It was Chillingworth who had advocated to him the need of wooden type to suit his literary style and who had long ordered and bullied him about; and how was he to play the host to Chillingworth, not to speak of the others, with the news between them of that million?
When the bell rang, St.George somewhat gruffly superseded Rollo.
"I'll go," he said briefly, "and keep out of sight for a few minutes.

Get in the bath-room or somewhere, will you ?" he added nervously, and opened the door.
At one stroke Chillingworth settled his own position by dominating the situation as he dominated the city room.

He chose the best chair and told a good story and found fault with the way the fire burned, all with immediate ease and abandon.