“I'm afraid that's true. I don't know that I meant to do much harm, but it's generally easier than doing good. For example, I've given you some trouble; but at the moment I can't think of a new offense.”
“You can quit joking and put down that newspaper. It looks as if you didn't know why Festing left?”
Charnock said he could not guess, and got up abruptly when Sadie told him. He kicked the newspaper out of his way and crossed the floor with angry strides. His face was red when he stopped in front of his wife.
“You don't believe the lying tale!”
“No,” said Sadie, calmly. “If I had believed it, I wouldn't have talked to you like this.”
“Thank you! Now we have cleared the ground, I'm certainly going to do something. I'll begin by driving over to Wilkinson's to-morrow, and I'll take a whip.”
“Festing 'tended to that matter before he left, and making another circus won't help. Besides, Wilkinson has got to quit. You'll see notices about his sale soon; I fixed that up.”
Charnock laughed. “You're a marvel, Sadie, but the brute deserves it. Well, if I mustn't thrash him, what's your plan?”
“You'll go to British Columbia and bring Festing back.”
“I will, by George!” said Charnock. “We owe him and Helen much, and the job is obviously mine—by joining Festing I give Wilkinson the lie. You're clever, and I expect you saw this. Anyhow, I'll start; but Festing's an obstinate fellow. Suppose he won't come back?”