"Brin told him, himself, sir." She was a little overeager.
Tucker frowned.
"Yes, I believe the boy did say something to that effect. I own I was not much interested in the fact, and I can't say I think it has any bearing on the present situation."
Crane was silent for an instant. Then he said:
"No, it hasn't. He's got to go," and then he added, quite clearly, and looking at his cook very directly:
"But I am sorry, Jane-Ellen, not to be able to do anything that you ask me to do."
She looked back at him for an instant, with a sort of imperishable sweetness, and then went sadly out of the room.
Between Crane and his legal adviser no further words were exchanged.
Crane went and took out one of the motors and rushed at a high rate of speed over the country, frightening one or two sedate black mules, the only other travelers on the roads, and soothing his own irritation by the rapidity of the motion.
More and more he regretted not having been able to grant the favor Jane-Ellen had so engagingly asked, more and more he felt inclined to believe that in Brindlebury's place he would have done the same thing, more and more did he feel disposed to fasten upon Tucker all the disagreeableness of the situation.