"Your father should have been ashamed to make the offer. It serves him right if his offer's accepted. Don't blame the Seraph. If Nigel and your father proceed on the lines they've gone on this afternoon, one or both of us will have to cut the country. The Seraph's not made of money; he'll want all he can lay hands on. Now then, Sylvia, it's two lives you're playing with."
She had not yet made up her mind, and indecision chilled the warmth of her eyes and the smile on her lips. I watched the effort, and wondered if it would suffice for the Seraph. Then question and answer told their tale.
"When shall we see you again?" I heard her ask as I walked to the door.
"I can hardly say," came the low reply. "I'm leaving England shortly. I shall go across India, and spend some time in Japan--and then visit the Islands of the South Seas. It's a thing I've always wanted to do. After that? I don't know...."
"The instant he entered the room it was plain that all was lost....
"'I cannot find it,' said he, 'and I must have it. Where is it?... Where is my bench?... Time presses; and I must finish those shoes.'
"They looked at one another, and their hearts died within them.
"'Come, come!' said he, in a whimpering miserable way: 'let me get to work. Give me my work.'
"'The last chance is gone: it was not much....'"
As I helped the Seraph out of the house and into a taxi, I was trying to string together a few words of sympathy and encouragement. Then I looked at his face, and decided to save my breath. Physically and mentally he was too hard hit to profit by any consolation I could offer. As a clumsy symbol of good intention I held out my hand, and had it gripped and retained till we reached Adelphi Terrace.
"Never mind me," he said, in a slow, sing-song voice, hesitating like a man speaking an unfamiliar language. "It's you and Joyce we've got to consider."
"Don't worry your head, Seraph," I said. "We'll find a way out. You've got to be quiet and get well."
The Seraph sighed and lifted his feet wearily on to the seat opposite.
"You played that last hand well, Toby. I'm afraid you'll have to go on playing without any support from me. I'm dummy, I'm only good for two possible tricks."
"I can't find Mavis," he went on. "You see that?"