“Archerd!” the voice called from farther down the street. He stopped at the sound of his name, startled out of a deep contemplation.

He turned and searched the street with his gaze, quickly spotting the suit-coated figure waving at him from among the crowd. “Maevin!” he called out to the fellow. “There you are! I had just stopped by to call on you,” he continued as they navigated the sidewalks toward each other.

“So I heard, old chap,” the other huffed. “I hurried on to catch you before you got...