Sir Robert Aylward, catching sight of him, came across the hall in his usual, direct fashion, and shook him by the hand.
"Glad to see you, Vernon," he said, fixing his piercing eyes upon Alan as though he were trying to read his thoughts.

"Pleasant change this from the City and all that eternal business, isn't it?
Ah! you are thinking that one is not quite clear of business after all," and he glanced round at the company.

"That's one of your cousin Haswell's faults; he can never shake himself free of the thing, never get any real recreation.

I'd bet you a sovereign that he has a stenographer waiting by a telephone in the next room, just in case any opportunity should arise in the course of conversation.

That is magnificent, but it is not wise.