“Now go, and I hope that your future record may wipe out your past.”
Cecil turned away, and at the same moment the doctor was beside Rose.
“This way——” He guided her.
“Ces?”
“Coming at once. You’ll want to go back to your rooms.”
“And pack up and leave the place for ever,” said Rose, recovering her wonted energy.
“It’s largely thanks to you, Lucian, that the boy is free to come with us,” said Ford’s cool tones behind them. “Frankly, I thought this morning that we should leave this place without him.”
“I suppose it would have been possible, in all good faith, to condemn Cecil to prison, but if actions were to be judged by results—which, mercifully, they are not—then it would be a poor look-out for human justice. Prison would be just about the surest way in the world to break the boy for good and all. Thank the Lord, that fellow had the sense to see it.”
“Better luck than the boy deserved,” muttered Ford between his teeth. “Will you look after my sister-in-law, while I go and send a telegram to them at home? I’ll join you at the hotel.”
“Don’t bother,” said Rose, suddenly facing round. “We can manage, Ces and I. There’s nothing to be done, after all, except pack up and go away, and I did most of the packing last night.”