“Yes, a glass stopper. Perhaps I left it in my room. Mustn’t lose it; stoppers cost money.”
“And here’s some money of yours, father.”
“Eh? Oh, that change.”
“Twenty-five shillings.”
“Put it on the chimney-piece, my dear; I’ll take it presently. We will not be hard on Harry. Let him have his companion. We shall get him round by degrees. Ah, here comes some one to tempt you away.”
In effect Madelaine was passing the window on her way to the front entrance; but Vine forgot all about his glass stopper for the moment, and threw open the glass door.
“Come in here, my dear,” he said. “We were just talking about you.”
“About me, Mr Vine? Whatever were you saying?”
“Slander of course, of course.”
“My father desired to be kindly remembered, and I was to say, ‘Very satisfactory so far.’”