"I had to come to the meeting. I promised Joe," the woman was saying.
"What about the children?"
There was silence: then the man went on with a cold sneer.
"Little Alice, I suppose. Little Alice got to do it all these days."
"Little Alice is mine," the woman retorted. "If you're not satisfied with the way your—"
The Colonel sat up.
"For God's sake!" he cried.
CHAPTER XXX
THE END OF THE WORLD
The next day was Bank Holiday; and such a holiday as no living man had known or would ever know again. Half the world had already tumbled into hell; and the other half was poised breathless on the brink, awaiting the finger-push that should send it too roaring down to death.