"I can understand it, because I am also a busy man when I'm at home," he said.

"It is a question of the value of your time and Mr.
Calhoun's apparently ?" Though he possibly did not realize it Deringham's tone was a trifling condescending, and there was something in it which suggested that he believed anything could be bought with money.

He was, however, a little astonished when the man regarded him gravely out of eyes that closed a trifle.
"That's just where you're wrong," said he.

"If I could have taken you on to save the lady waiting it would have pleased me.

As it is, I can't, you see." He said nothing more, but dismounting pulled the boxes out of the wagon and laid some travelling wraps upon one of them, while Miss Deringham affected not to see what he was doing.