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r. Bennington followed. The moment the door was closed the five persons left behind metaphorically flew at each other and not so very metaphorically either! When Mr. Bennington returned there was something in the atmosphere which suggested that certain members of the party had been very near to blows.
"I'm sorry," he remarked, "if I seem abrupt, but I have certain engagements which I must keep, and I must therefore ask you to be so good as to leave me." He spoke to the nondescript person who was standing in the open doorway. "Derwentwater, show these ladies and gentlemen out."
Derwentwater showed them out. There was something which was scarcely dignified in their bearing as they went. Nor, so far as they were concerned, were matters improved by the parting remark which Mr. Bennington courteously addressed to them as they went straggling through the door.
"May I ask you, as a favour, not to continue your discussion in the elevator as you go down? Wait till you are in the street."
CHAPTER XXX
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
HUGH BECKWITH was sitting up in bed. He was not yet a desirable object for contemplation, but most of the bandages were removed from his head and face; the chief medical protection which remained being a deep green shade which ran across his eyes. He had raised this slightly to permit of his looking at Catherine, who was seated at his bedside. His voice was stronger than before, but there was still something the matter with his utterance.
"He was in the deuce of a stew," he said.
"Let Mr. Stewart be in the deuce of a stew!" the lady rejoined. Mr. Beckwith's right hand was lying outside the coverlet; she was holding it in both of hers.
"I never saw a man in such a state of mind."
The lady was unsympathetic although she stroked the hand she was holding very tenderly. "Serve him right!"
"But, Catherine," the patient persisted, "are you quite sure you're acting reasonably
