‘I envy you, old fellow,’ said Reardon, sighing. ‘You have the right fire in you; you have zeal and energy. Well, what do you think I have decided to do?’
‘I should like to hear.’
Reardon gave an account of his project. The other listened gravely, seated across a chair with his arms on the back.
‘Your wife is in agreement with this?’
‘Oh yes.’ He could not bring himself to say that Amy had suggested it. ‘She has great hopes that the change will be just what I need.’
‘I should say so too—if you were going to rest. But if you have to set to work at once it seems to me very doubtful.’
‘Never mind. For Heaven’s sake don’t discourage me! If this fails I think—upon my soul, I think I shall kill myself.’
‘Pooh!’ exclaimed Biffen, gently. ‘With a wife like yours?’
‘Just because of that.’
‘No, no; there’ll be some way out of it. By-the-bye, I passed Mrs Reardon this morning, but she didn’t see me. It was in Tottenham Court Road, and Milvain was with her. I felt myself too seedy in appearance to stop and speak.’