noon
If they had already a suspicion , would they care to know that it was shared by him ? Halting between his frankness and his delicacy , the final thought that in his budding relations with the daughter it might seem a cruel bid for her confidence , or a revenge for their distrust of him , inclined him to silence . But an unforeseen occurrence took the matter from his hands . At noon he was told that Mr. Carstone wished to see him in his private room ! Satisfied that his complicity with Dornton 's escape was discovered , the unfortunate Herbert presented himself , pale but self-possessed , before his employer . That brief man of business bade him be seated , and standing himself before the fireplace , looked down curiously , but not unkindly , upon his employee . `` Mr. Bly , the bank does not usually interfere with the private affairs of its employees , but for certain reasons which I prefer to explain to you later , I must ask you to give me a straightforward answer to one or two questions .