Lord Romfrey looked through the venetian blinds of the parlour window.
“It’s as good as a play to them,” he remarked.
Cecilia lit a candle and applied a stick of black wax to the flame, saying: “Envelopes have fallen short. These letters will frighten the receivers. I cannot help it.”
“I will bring letter paper and envelopes in the afternoon,” said Lord Romfrey. “Don’t use black wax, my dear.”
“I can find no other: I do not like to trouble Miss Denham. Letter paper has to be sealed. These letters must go by the afternoon post: I do not like to rob the poor anxious people of a little hope while he lives. Let me have note paper and envelopes quickly: not black-edged.”
“Plain; that’s right,” said Lord Romfrey.
Black appeared to him like the torch of death flying over the country.
“There may be hope,” he added.
She sighed: “Oh! yes.”
“Gannet will do everything that man can do to save him.”