The two young men returned his look, but there was no comforting assurance in their gaze.
Alfred Paulton was now profoundly impressed with a sense of the unpleasantness into which he had drawn the whole family.
"I am very sorry, sir," said he, addressing his father, "that I have been the cause of all this worry. Of course I had not the least idea last night that anything of this kind was likely to arise. If I had, I should never have acted as I did."
"It is most unfortunate," said the father.
"Well," broke in Jerry O'Brien, "there's no use now in crying over spilt milk. What we have to ask ourselves is: How can it be best faced--eh, Pringle? Isn't that the practical question?"
"I think so," said the solicitor. "For my part I find myself in rather an awkward position. Mrs. Davenport's interests and yours, Mr. Paulton, can scarcely be said to be any longer identical. I cannot advise both. Besides, Mr. Paulton, you have a solicitor of your own. My position is uncomfortable--scarcely professional."
"My father's solicitor would be little or no use in this case, Mr. Pringle," said Alfred. "That is the reason we came to you."
"Mr. Pringle," said the father, "pray do not throw us over. If you do, I shall not know where to turn. Can you not show us any way out of this unhappy situation?"
"Of course," said Pringle, "you must put up with the consequences of facts up to this moment. What I suppose you to be asking me is--How can further consequences be avoided, or can they be avoided at all?"
"Precisely," said Mr. Paulton. "Can they be avoided at all?--and if so, how?"