Something of his ordinary confidence of bearing and demeanor had
certainly deserted him. His manner, too, was nervous. He had the air
of being altogether ill at ease.
"I must apologize further, Mr. Aynesworth," he continued, "for an
apparently ill-timed visit. You are, I see, on the eve of a journey."
"I am leaving for America tomorrow," Aynesworth answered.
"With Sir Wingrave Seton, I presume?" Barrington remarked.
"Precisely," Aynesworth answered.
Barrington hesitated for a moment. Aynesworth was civil, but
inquiring. He felt himself very awkwardly placed.
"Mr. Aynesworth," he said, "I must throw myself upon your
consideration. You can possibly surmise the reason of my visit."
Aynesworth shook his head.
"I am afraid," he said, "that I must plead guilty to denseness--in
this particular instance, at any rate. I am altogether at a loss to
account for it."
"You have had some conversation with my wife, I believe?"
"Yes. But--"
"Before you proceed, Mr. Aynesworth," Barrington interrupted, "one
word. You are aware that Sir Wingrave Seton is in possession of
certain documents in which my wife is interested, which he refuses to
give up?"
"I have understood that such is the case," Aynesworth admitted. "Will
you pardon me if I add that it is a matter which I can scarcely
discuss?"
Barrington shrugged his shoulders.
"Let it go, for the moment," he said. "There is something else which I
want to say to you.
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