“Well, but what?”
For the old gentleman had paused. He spoke to his wife, in a whisper which was perfectly audible—
“Shall I tell him, Emma?”
“It’s not for me to speak. That, Joe, is for you to say.”
“This is Mr. Ferguson; he’s Mr. Philip’s friend.”
“If he’s Mr. Philip’s friend——”
“Come,” I said, “I see you’ve heard from him.”
“Yes, sir, we’ve heard from him. That—that’s the trouble.”
“What is it you’ve heard?”
Again the reference to his wife.