THE GAP
"Now, my chicken, to roost!" said Nick.
He turned to give her his paternal embrace, but paused as Olga very slightly drew back from it.
They stood in the dining-room which they had entered on arrival. Max had lounged across to the mantelpiece, and propped himself against it in his favourite attitude. He looked on as it were from afar.
"Please," Olga said rather breathlessly, and she addressed Nick as though he were the only person in the room, "I want to ask you something before we say good-night."
"Something private?" asked Nick.
She put her hand to her throat; her face was ghastly. Her voice came with visible effort. "It concerns—Max," she said.
Max neither moved nor spoke. He was looking very fixedly at Olga. There was something merciless in his attitude.
Nick flashed a swift glance at him, and slipped his arm round the girl. She was quivering with agitation, yet she made as if she would free herself.
"Please, Nick!" she said imploringly. "I want to be strong. Help me to be strong!"