Above all he was young, very young, for his age, doubtful of himself, fearing that he always struck a silly figure in any crisis that he had to face. On the other hand, he was helped by his real hatred of the red-flushed man at the table, unlike his brother-in-law Philip in that, namely, that he did not want every one to like him and, indeed, rather preferred to be hated by the people whom he himself disliked.
Tom Duncombe was now pulling at one of the drawers of the table. Henry stood up, feeling that the whole room was singing about his ears.
"I beg your pardon," he said, smiling feebly, and knowing that his voice was a ridiculous one. "But would you mind waiting until Sir Charles comes in? I know he won't be long--he said he'd be back by three."
Duncombe moved away from the drawer and stared.
"Here," he said. "Do you know where my brother keeps the key of this drawer? If so, hand it over."
"Yes, I do know," said Henry. (It was sufficiently obvious, as the key was hanging on a string at the far corner of the table.) "But I'm afraid I can't give it you. Sir Charles told me that no one was to have it while he was away."
Duncombe took in this piece of intelligence very slowly. He stared at Henry as though he were some curious and noxious kind of animal that had just crawled in from under the window. A purple flush suffused his forehead and nose.
"Good God!" he said. "The infernal cheek!"
They stood silently staring at one another for a moment, then Duncombe said:
"None of your lip, young man. I don't know who the devil you think you are--anyway hand over the key."
"Simply I can't. I was told not to--I'm your brother's secretary and have to do what he says--not what you say!"
Henry felt himself growing more happily defiant.
"Do you want to get the damnedest hiding you've ever had in your young life?"
"Don't care what I do? Well, you soon will. Are you going to give me that key?" (All this time he was pulling at the drawers with angry jerks, pausing to stare at Henry, then pulling again.)
"You're not? You know I can get my brother to kick you out?"
"I don't care. I'm going to do what he said."
"You bloody young fool, he never said you weren't to let me have it."
"I may have misunderstood him. If I did, he'll put it right when he comes back."