As he stepped inside the
anteroom which separated the two offices occupied respectively by
him and his senior partner, Philip Rochester, a stranger rose from
the clerk's desk.
"Yes, sir?" he asked interrogatively.
Kent eyed him in surprise. "Mr. Rochester here? " he inquired.
"No, sir. It am in charge of the office."
"You are!" Kent's surprise increased. "I happen to be Mr. Kent,
junior partner in this firm."
"I beg your pardon, sir." The dapper clerk bowed and hurrying to
his desk took up a letter. "Mr. Rochester left this for you, Mr.
Kent, before his departure last night."
"His departure!" Kent deposited his suit-case on one of the chairs
and tore open the envelope. The note was a scrawl, which he had
some difficulty in deciphering.
"Dear Kent," it ran. "Am called out of town; will be back Saturday.
Saunders gave me some of his cheek this afternoon, so I fired him.
I engaged John Sylvester to fill his place, who comes highly
recommended. He will report for work to-morrow. Ta-ta - PHIL."
Kent thrust the note into his pocket and picked up his suit-case.
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