Dare removed the cigarette from his lips and bowed. ‘If I don’t suit, the sooner I go the better; why wait the week?’ he said.
‘Well, that’s as you like.’
Somerset drew the inkstand towards him, wrote out a cheque for Dare’s services, and handed it across the table.
‘I’ll not trouble you to-morrow,’ said Dare, seeing that the payment included the week in advance.
‘Very well,’ replied Somerset. ‘Please lock the door when you leave.’ Shaking hands with Dare and wishing him well, he left the room and descended to the lawn below.
There he contrived to get near Miss Power again, and inquired of her for Miss De Stancy.
‘O! did you not know?’ said Paula; ‘her father is unwell, and she preferred staying with him this afternoon.’
‘I hoped he might have been here.’
‘O no; he never comes out of his house to any party of this sort; it excites him, and he must not be excited.’
‘Poor Sir William!’ muttered Somerset.