“She said, sir, that Mrs. Kettering had met a friend unexpectedly.”

“Is that so?”

The secretary’s practised ears caught the note of strain underlying the seemingly casual tone.

“Oh, I see. Man or woman?”

“I think she said a man, sir.”

Van Aldin nodded. His worst fears were being realised. He rose from his chair, and began pacing up and down the room, a habit of his when agitated. Unable to contain his feelings any longer, he burst forth: