III
At noon Lord Stranleigh and Professor Marlow sat down to breakfast. In the daylight Marlow's emaciated face did not look so ill-favoured as at night, or else Lord Stranleigh was becoming accustomed to it. When the meal was finished, the young man took his guest to a balcony overlooking the courtyard and seated him in an easy-chair. He lit a cigar, leaned back, and said:
"Now, Professor, tell me what's the trouble with you?"
Before Bronson Marlow could answer, Perkins opened the door to the balcony and said:
"The Honourable John Hazel to see you, my lord."
"Oh, hang! I can't see him just now, Perkins. Tell him I'm busy, that I've got a conference on, and can see nobody."
"He has been here twice before, my lord."
"Oh, has he? The Honourable Jack has been up early for once in his life. All right, say that
