"May I look at the Daily Mirror, Mr. Cathcart?" he asked.
"There is no doubt of his guilt," the old man said, as he handed the paper across (the two were deep in a law case now). "I said so to Markham a dozen times--" and so on.
But there was no more word of spiritualism. Laurie propped the paper before him as he finished his cheese, and waited for coffee, and read with unseeing eyes. He was resenting as hard as he could the abruptness of the opening and closing of the subject, and the complete disregard now shown to him. He drank his coffee, still leisurely, and lit a cigarette; and still the two talked.
He stood up at last and reached down his hat and stick. The old man looked up.
"You are going, Mr. Baxter...? Good day.... Well then; and as I was waiting in court--"
Laurie passed out indignantly, and went down the stairs.
So that was Mr. Cathcart. Well, he was thankful he hadn't written to him, after all. He was not his kind in the least.
II
The moment he passed out of the door the old man stopped his fluent talking and waited, looking after the boy. Then he turned again to his friend.
"I'm a blundering idiot," he said.
Mr. Morton sniffed.
"I've put him against me now--Lord knows how; but I've done it; and he won't listen to me."
"Gad!" said Mr. Morton; "what funny people you all are! And you really meant what you said?"
"Every word," said the old man cheerfully.... "Well; our little plot's over."
"Why don't you ask him to come and see you?"
"First," said the old man, with the same unruffled cheerfulness, "he wouldn't have come. We've muddled it. We'd much better have been straightforward. Secondly, he thinks me an old fool--as you do, only more so. No; we must set to work some other way now.... Tell me about Miss Deronnais: I showed you her letter?"
The other nodded, helping himself to cheese.
"I told her that I was at her service, of course; and I haven't heard again. Sensible girl?"
"Very sensible, I should say."
"Sort of girl that wouldn't scream or faint in a crisis?"
"Exactly the opposite, I should say. But I've hardly seen her, you know."
"Well, well.... And the mother?"
"No good at all," said Mr. Morton.
"Then the girl's the sheet anchor.... In love with him, do you know?"