“Why, sure, come in. Take your things off, young man.”
Miss Gellert said seriously: “I want him to see everything. Will you take him round? You will find he is very intelligent.”
Jason stood frowning slightly. “Could you explain what all this is about?” he asked politely. “I really believe I could appreciate things so much better if I knew.”
Dr. Kaufman took his arm. “Of course,” he said; “Mary is so impulsive. She brings all sorts of people here. I am very grateful to her, but sometimes I feel she brings them on false pretences.”
Miss Gellert said: “Take him round, Doctor, then we can have a talk. I’ll wait in the library for you both.”
Kaufman said: “Will you be patient? I want to show you the work I am trying to do. Will you come?”
Jason said, “Why certainly,” and went with him, feeling somehow that the little man was too sincere to be refused.
Miss Gellert waited for over an hour before Jason came into the library. He came alone. She was sitting by a big fire, very serene and relaxed. Jason came and sat down opposite her. In the firelight he looked very pale.
She said: “I can’t say I’m sorry. You see, unless I do this sort of thing, I can’t get people to take any interest.”
Jason said, a little bitterly, “I suppose he wants money?”