“Yes, and would have stayed if it would have helped them,” said Vine. “Come.”
Harry hung back for a moment, and then, in the hope that he might be able to slip away from them, and search the office in Crampton’s absence, he went on by their side.
To the surprise of all, as they reached the house the door was opened by Crampton, who stood scowling in the doorway, and barred the way.
“How is he now, Crampton?” said Vine, as Harry’s heart began to palpitate with the fear that all this was intended for him.
“Dying,” said the old man, shortly.
“No, no, not so bad as that,” cried Louise and her father in a breath. “Doctor Knatchbull said—”
“What doctors always say, Miss Louise, that while there’s life, there’s hope. ’Tisn’t true. There’s often life and no hope, and it’s so here.”
“Crampton, you are taking too black a view of the matter,” said Vine, quickly. “It’s very good of you to be so much moved as his old and faithful servant, but let’s all, as a duty, look on the best side of things.”
“There is no best side,” said Crampton bitterly. “The whole world’s corrupt. Well: what do you people want to say?”
“To say! We have come to be of help if we can. Come, Louise, my dear.”