John shut his mouth with a snap; the thought of Rachel sent the blood back to his heart. To have her subjected to this scandal, to have Sidney and such as Sidney bandy her name about, passed endurance.
"I'll take Sidney aside and threaten him with the Star Chamber," said the doctor; "let me try that before you birch him, John."
"There are some things that a man can't endure!"
"A good many, but like the plagues of Egypt they don't always soften Pharaoh's heart. If Addie Billop had only used enough soothing-syrup we might have been spared; some of it kills as quick as rat poison."
"Macclesfield," called Sedley from the other end of the room, "how long does it take to starve a man to death?"
"It depends on the man," laughed Macclesfield. "It would take quite a while with you, Sedley; you could live on your paws."
The old man sauntered down to the other group as he spoke, and John remained, turning over the leaves of a thirteenth century missal. Here he could understand Astry's interest, but his thoughts were not on it; he was raging against the intolerable situation.
Meanwhile, Sidney Billop had wandered to the center-table and was looking at the wand and its red sphere with a curiosity that invited a visitation of fate.
"I say, Astry," he said, "what in the world's all this? Looks like a top."
"Don't touch it," advised Astry, looking up from the toad he was displaying. "It has divining powers, Billop; it will expose the inmost secrets of your soul."