She stretched out her hand to touch his brow. I could have snatched it back. He lay perfectly still, staring up at her with fixed, unseeing eyes.
'Why--sorry?'
'I had hoped it would all have seemed so different.'
'It's all right. I've had enough. Glad it's over.'
'Are you in pain?'
'Pains of hell.'
He said this, in his tremulous, croaking tones, with a depth of sincerity which impressed even me. The fellow was a past master of his art, or in possession of unholy powers. Edith's hand visibly trembled.
'Poor Leonard!'
'Soon--over. Who's the girl?'
'This is Violet Howarth--Douglas's sister. Vi, you remember Twickenham? This is Reggie's brother.'