She continued to read, without looking up. Worse laid his hat down, faltering a little as he crossed the floor.
"We have had a very jolly day, Sarah."
"All three?"
"Three!" exclaimed Worse, stopping short; "why, there was only Randulf and I."
"You lie; there were three," said Sarah, calmly.
Jacob Worse was now seized with the unlucky idea that she was joking with him.
He approached her, smiling, and with boozy eyes, in order to put his arm round her neck.
"Hey! so you know more about it than I do. Where did you go to school that you are so wise? Who was the third? Hey!"
"The devil," answered Sarah, lifting her eyes suddenly. "The loathsome fiend was sitting between you."
Jacob Worse started back.