Mrs. Hall was about to leave the room⁠—she made no conversational advances this time, because she did not want to be snubbed in front of Mr. Henfrey⁠—when her visitor asked her if she had made any arrangements about his boxes at Bramblehurst . She told him she had mentioned the matter to the postman, and that the carrier could bring them over on the morrow. “You are certain that is the earliest?” he said.

She was certain, with a marked coldness.

“I should explain,” he added, “what I was really too cold and fatigued to do before, that I am an experimental investigator.”

“Indeed, sir,” said Mrs. Hall, much impressed.

“And my baggage contains apparatus and appliances.”