Toby endured the situation for a few difficult seconds, then took brisk command. "Why don't you have a smoke?" she said. "You'd find it a help."
He put his hand mechanically into his pocket and took out his cigarette-case. His eyes came back out of space as he did so, and rested upon the fair-haired child in the girl's arms.
"So you've come back to the old job!" he said.
Toby nodded. "Yes. Jake's doing. I'm waiting to—to—to be divorced."
He made a slight movement of surprise, but his face remained inscrutable.
"You'll have to wait some time for that," he said.
Toby tilted her chin with a reckless gesture that was somehow belied by the weariness of her eyes. "That wasn't what you came to talk about then?" she suggested after a pause.
"No." Larpent's voice had a curious, almost deprecating quality. "I came to bring you a message."
"A message!" She started slightly, and in a moment the defiance went out of her attitude. She turned towards him. "Who—who is it from?"
Larpent's far-seeing eyes came gravely to meet her own. "From Rozelle
Daubeni," he said.
"Ah!" A quick shiver went through Toby. She averted her look. "I don't want to hear it," she said.