"There is no one coming for dinner." The man's disappointment was barely concealed.

He sighed as he took up the tray.
"Very good, sir.

Your clothes are all out.

I'll turn on the hot water in the bathroom." Tallente threw off his rain and mud-soaked clothes, bathed, changed and descended to the dining room just as the gong sounded.

Robert was in the act of moving the additional place from the little round dining table which he had drawn up closer to the wood fire, but his master stopped him.
"You can let those things be," he directed.