Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/98

, with embarrassment, and in an undertone. “I wasn’t expecting”

The recognition was mutual, and whilst Joseph, though disconcerted, expressed his feelings in a familiar smile, the other cast a quick glance of uneasiness towards the stairs, his mouth compressed, his eyebrows twitching a little.

“Business with Mr. Percival?” he inquired confidentially, but without Joseph’s familiar accentuation.

“Yes. That is Is he here?”

“Won’t be for another hour. Anything I could see about for you?”

Joseph moved in uncertainty, debating with himself. Their eyes met again.

“Well, we might have a word or two about it,” he said. “Better meet somewhere else, perhaps?”

“Could you be at the top of Chancery Lane at six o’clock?”

With a look of mutual understanding, they parted. Joseph went home, and explained that, to his surprise, he had found an