King leaned forward a little and looked at Gabe. "It's been settled—between them two," he said gravely.
"How settled?"
"Lush won't be goin' back to work any more. He's goin' out to-morrow."
"He's leavin', then—for sure?"
"Yes. He walked up to see me this afternoon an'—he says he can't stay here."
Gabe puckered his lips and was silent a moment. "Then—that means," he said very thoughtfully, "—that means he's handed it over to you."
King made no reply.
"You've got to take it up from last night," Gabe remarked again, and again King remained silent. Gabe was silent, too, for a long time, and when he spoke his words were so sudden and direct that King was startled. "Why didn't you finish it last night?"
King turned round slightly to meet Anne, who came into the room and greeted him. He waited until she left before he spoke.
"Gabe," he said at last, "it's been clear between us up to now, hasn't it?"