"Trying to make his peace with Heaven?"
"No. He's honest in this, just as he has always been in his selfishness. He's thinking only of Dee."
"Does he really care for her, Osterhout?"
"I think he'd die without her."
"Isn't there a good chance of his dying anyway?"
"Nothing to bank on."
"What does Dee say to the separation idea?"
"Won't listen. Just turns away and stops her ears."
More than ever convinced that Wollaston must be kept away from Dorrisdale at all costs, Scott put in the hours between his talk with Osterhout and his appointment with Pat, striving to locate the Englishman on the long-distance telephone, but without success.
Upon his arrival at the Knoll, Scott found only Ralph Fentriss in possession.