The financier smiled grimly as he answered:
"Your family in general—me in particular, eh? I gleaned that much when I came in." He looked towards the door of the room in which Shirley had taken refuge and as if talking to himself he added: "A curious girl with an inverted point of view—sees everything different to others—I want to see her before she goes."
He walked over to the door and raised his hand as if he were about to knock. Then he stopped as if he had changed his mind and turning towards his son he demanded:
"Do you mean to say that she has done with you?"
"Yes," answered Jefferson bitterly.
"Finally?"
"Yes, finally—forever!"
"Does she mean it?" asked Ryder, Sr., sceptically.
"Yes—she will not listen to me while her father is still in peril."
There was an expression of half amusement, half admiration on the financier's face as he again turned towards the door.