The ringing abruptly ceased, and a low, anxious voice was heard: "Hullo!
hullo! hullo! Is that you, John? Hullo!"--Stephen's voice.
"Yes; what is it?"
"Can you come round a minute? I _must_ see you. It's _urgent_."
"What about?" said John, with a vague premonition.
"About--about--you know what!--about the other night--you _must_ come! I
can't leave the house."
"No, I'm damned if I do--I've had enough of that." At that moment John
felt that he hated his old friend. The accumulated annoyances of the day
merged in and reinforced the new indignation he had felt against
Stephen since the sack incident and the revelations of Mrs. Bantam. He
had had enough. He refused to be further entangled in that business.
Then Stephen spoke again, appealingly, despairingly. "John--you _must_!
It's--it's _come up_."