Holles thanked him steadily, and rose to depart, his radiance quenched, despondency in every line of him.
Albemarle watched from under furrowed brows. As he reached the door the Duke detained him.
“Randal! A moment.”
The Colonel turned and waited whilst slowly Albemarle approached him. His grace was deep in thought, and he hesitated before speaking.
“You ... you are not urgently in need of money, I trust?” he said at last.
The Colonel’s gesture and laugh conveyed a shamefaced admission that he was.
Albemarle’s eyes considered him a moment still. Then, slowly, he drew a purse from his pocket. It was apparently a light purse. He unfastened it.
“If a loan will help you until....”
“No, no!” cried Holles, his pride aroused against accepting what amounted almost to alms.
Even so the repudiation was no more than half-hearted. But there was no attempt from Albemarle to combat it. He did not press the offer. He drew the purse-strings tight again, and his expression was almost one of relief.