"I can only, to my great regret, repeat to you what I have already said, my dear sir. I have no ready money."
And he held his jaw, groaning, as if this refusal aroused his toothache.
Saniel rose; evidently there was nothing for him to do but to go. It was finished, and instead of being in despair he felt it as a relief.
But, as he was about to leave the room, an idea flashed through his mind.
He looked at his watch, which he had not consulted for some time; it was twenty minutes after five; there yet remained four minutes, five at the most.
"Why do you not draw these curtains?" he said. "I am sure your sufferings are partly caused by the wind that comes in this window."
"Do you think so?"
"I am sure of it; you should be warm about the head, and avoid currents of air."
Passing behind Caffie, he went to the window to draw the curtains, but the cords would not move.
"It is years since they were drawn," Caffie said. "Doubtless the cords are entangled. I will bring the light."