Darche looked up, pulled out his watch and glanced at it, and then looked at her again before he answered. His eyes were hard and dull.
"I think I said that I was rather busy this morning," he answered slowly.
"Yes, I know," answered Marion, in her sweet, low voice. "But I will not keep you long. I must speak. John, is this state of things to go on for ever?"
"I fancy not. The death of one of us is likely to put a stop to it before eternity sets in," he answered with some scorn.
"We can stop it now if we will but try," said Marion, laying her hand entreatingly upon his arm.
"Oh yes, no doubt," observed John coldly.
"Let me speak, please, this once," said Mrs. Darche. "I know that you are worried and harassed about business, and you know that I want to spare you all I can, and would help you if I could."
"I doubt whether your help would be conducive to the interests of the Company," observed Darche.
"No—I know that I cannot help you in that way. But if you would only let me, in other ways, I could make it so much easier for you."
"Could you?" asked John, turning upon her immediately. "Then just lend me a hundred thousand dollars."