"Glad you're coming. Old Herrendene has been ordered to Governor's Island. He expects to stop with the Lindley Hammertons over Sunday."
"That Daisy girl's a corker," remarked Cairns, "—only I've always been rather afraid of her."
"She's a fine girl."
"Rather in Herrendene's class—lots of character," nodded Cairns thoughtfully. "Having none myself, she always had me backed up against the rail."
After a silence, Desboro said: "That was a ghastly break of mine last night."
"Rotten," said Cairns bluntly.
The painful colour rose to Desboro's temples.
"It will be the last, Jack. I lived a thousand years last night."
"I lived a few hundred myself," said Cairns reproachfully. "And what a thoroughbred your wife is!"
Desboro nodded and drew a deep, unsteady breath.