"Gone out."
"Gone out? You don't mean—"
Dr. Wilkes nodded. Between him and Mr. Braden there was little cordiality.
"What was the—er—cause of death?"
"Valvular cardiac disease of long standing."
"Poor fellow, poor fellow!" Mr. Braden sorrowed, his hand involuntarily caressing the papers in his inside pocket. "You never can—or—that is in the midst of life we are in death. Why, only an hour or so ago he was planning for a trip abroad."
"He's on a longer trip," Wilkes said grimly.
But the pounding of hoofs outside indicated that Larry had found his brothers. In a moment he entered with Gavin and Gerald. Dr. Wilkes did not soften his reply to Gerald's quick question. They stared at him, stupefied. It seemed to Mr. Braden that he should express his sympathy.
"My dear boys," he said, "I assure you that I feel for you in this dark hour. Providence in its inscrutable wisdom has seen fit—"
But Gavin interrupted him.