"There are two men in possession here," answered Mrs. Mortomley timidly, seeing the speaker looked at her.
"You hear that, Kleinwort," said Mr. Forde; "and this is being treated with confidence."
"Yes, yes, I hear," agreed Kleinwort.
"Perhaps it may save trouble to us all if I fetch a list of the pressing liabilities," suggested Rupert, and without waiting for an answer he walked out of the room, as he did so, Mrs. Mortomley rang the bell.
"What do you want ma'am?" asked Mr. Forde, turning towards her.
"I want a glass of water," she answered in astonishment.
"Pah!" exclaimed Mr. Forde. Perhaps he thought she had rung for ten thousand pounds to be brought immediately.
"Your friends would not like Mr. Mortomley to stop," said Mr. Forde after a pause, facing round on Dolly.
"I don't think, really, they would mind in the least," she replied, meaning to imply they would not understand what stopping meant.
"And that is friendship!" exclaimed Mr. Forde, apostrophising in vacancy.