But Ryland was sitting with a very white face, glaring at his toes.
“What is it, Ry?” asked Inez, slipping on to the sofa beside him and putting her arm round his neck. “Don’t get upset, old man. He’ll be all right if we take care of him.”
Ryland shook himself and looked at her strangely.
“I’m afraid I . . . I wrote to him last night . . . It’ll upset him if he reads it now . . . I wonder if I can get hold of the letter. . . .”
But once more Golpin, like a figure of fate, appeared in the doorway.
“Sir Garth wishes to see you in his study, Mr. Ryland.”
Ryland rose to his feet and walked slowly to the door. Inez rose as if to follow him, but stopped.
“Ry,” she said, her hand making a slight movement as if of appeal. “Be careful.”
Her brother glanced over his shoulder.
“Oh, I’ll be careful right enough,” he answered. “I can’t answer for the old man. This means a flogging,” he added, with a feeble attempt at humour.