"Do, Val," said Julian. "I should like it too."
Valentine, who was sitting near the doctor, looked down thoughtfully on the carpet.
"I'm not in the mood to-day," he said slowly.
"You are always in the mood enough to cheer and rest me," Levillier said.
He had driven all the way from Harley Street for his medicine, and it was obvious that he meant to have it. But Valentine still hesitated, and a certain slight confusion became noticeable in his manner. Moving the toe of his right boot to and fro, following the pattern of the carpet, he glanced sideways at the doctor, and an odd smile curved his lips.
"Doctor," he said, "d'you believe that talents can die in us while we ourselves live?"
"That's a strange question."
"It's waiting an answer."
"Well, my answer is, No; not wholly, unless through the approach of old age, or the development of madness."
"I'm neither old nor mad."