“I am glad to hear it,” I said simply. “Then, that poor Caryll can have everything that money can do to make him well, or at least to soften his suffering?”
“Yes,” Clarence replied, with emphasis on the words, “everything that money can do, but even money cannot always buy peace of mind.”
He said no more, for at that moment his father took out his watch and consulted it with a business-like air.
“Miss Fitzmaurice will excuse us, I am sure,” he said, “if we discuss practical matters in her presence.” I half rose from my seat.
“Shall I leave you?” I said; but this they at once both negatived.
“On the contrary,” said Clarence. “We shall be very much indebted to you if you will stay while we settle what is best to be done.”
“And I should very much like to hear it,” I said, seating myself again.
“The first thing, it seems to me,” the younger man continued, “is for one of us to go down to Liverpool, and at once to see Mr Fitzmaurice—your father, of course, I mean. Shall I do so, father?”
Mr Payne considered.
“You, I think, Clarence,” he said after a moment, “can do as well as, or better than I. Can you get off this afternoon?”