"I do not believe that she is in just now.

Will you wait one moment ?" He disappeared rapidly, and was absent for several minutes.

When he returned he came out into the reception hall.
"The manager would be much obliged if you would step into his office for a moment, sir," he said confidentially.

"Will you come this way ?" Duncombe followed him into a small room behind the counter.

A gray-haired man rose from his desk and saluted him courteously.
"Sir George Duncombe, I believe," he said.