"Does your man read you the Times?" asked Sir James, noticing that it lay unopened beside him.
Oliver nodded. "There was a dreadful being my mother found a fortnight ago. I got rid of him."
He had evidently not strength to be more explicit. But Sir James had heard from Lady Lucy of the failure of her secretarial attempt.
"I hear they talk of moving you for the winter."
"They talk of it. I shall oppose it."
"I hope not!--for Lady Lucy's sake. She is so hopeful about it, and she is not fit herself to spend the winter in England."
"My mother must go," said Oliver, closing his eyes.
"She will never leave you."
Marsham made no reply; then, without closing his eyes again, he said, between his teeth: "What is the use of going from one hell to another hell--through a third--which is the worst of all?"
"You dread the journey?" said Sir James, gently. "But there are ways and means."