"It's a cheerless mess. It all came after the bank failure, I suppose."
"Practically, though the brothers never got on. You see my governor was bit by their bank failure; and Miss Pat resented the fact that he backed off when stung. But the Gillespies take their medicine; father never squealed, which makes me sore that your Aunt Pat gives me the icy eye."
"Their affairs are certainly mixed," I remarked non-committally.
"They are indeed; and I have studied the whole business until my near mind is mussed up, like scrambled eggs. Your own pretty idyl of the nunnery garden adds the note piquante. Cross my palm with gold and I'll tell you of strange things that lie in the future. I have an idea, Donovan; singular though it seem, I've a notion in my head."
"Keep it," I retorted, "to prevent a cranial vacuum."
"Crushed! Absolutely crushed!" he replied gloomily. "Kick me. I'm only the host."
We were silent while the few sounds of the village street droned in. He rose and paced the floor to shake off his mood, and when he sat down he seemed in better spirits.
"Holbrook will undoubtedly return," I said.
"Yes; there's no manner of doubt about that!"
"And then there will be more trouble."