Part 54 (1/2)
”I don't follow.”
”Would you still take half my share from me?”
”What's the good of talking about it?” And he looked at her thoughtfully. ”Jane, the devil is driving me. I'm not the man I was. I funk dangers. My health is broken.... You'll be all right. You have friends. I have none. It's vital to me to know that we--that I shall have enough to rub along with out there.”
Mrs. Marsden said no more.
”Yes, you'll be all right, old girl. Never fear!” And he got up, and stretched himself. ”But I say! We've been jawing such a deuce of a time that it'll be too late to do anything to-day, unless we look sharp....
Will you give me a letter to Hyde & Collins, saying you accept?”
”No, I'll go there, and tell them by word of mouth.”
”May I go with you?”
”No, that's unnecessary.”
”But you _will_ go, Jane? I mean, at once. You do intend to go--and no rot?”
”I have told you I am going.”
”Yes, but hurry up then. They don't keep open all night.”
”I'll tell them within an hour.”
Within an hour she had spoken to Mr. Bence's solicitors and gone on to the office of Mr. Prentice.
”Now,” she said to her old friend, ”you see me in my need. The time has come. Help me with all your power.”
Then very rapidly she told him all that had happened.
”So there goes the end of an old song,” said Mr. Prentice. ”Mind you, I don't tell you that you are doing wrong. It may be--probably it _is_--the only thing to do.... Six thousand pounds!” It was obvious that Mr. Prentice had been astonished by the largeness of this sum. But he would not admit the fact. He spoke cautiously.
”It is more than anyone else would have given.”
”Possibly! But I might have got you better terms from Bence. Let me take up the negotiations now. If he will give as much as six thousand, he may give more.”
”No, I have told Hyde & Collins that we accept.”
”That was premature. But you referred them to me?”
”No. I told them to prepare the conveyance at once.”
”But--good gracious--they can't act for both sides.”
”Of course they can. It will save time--it will save money. There is no difficulty _there_. We sell all we have. A child could carry it through.”
”Oh, but really, I don't know. Your interests must be guarded.”
”No, no.” She was nervous and excited, and she spoke piteously and yet irritably. ”I have instructed them. They must attend to the sale. And _you_ must attend to the deed of separation. Concentrate your mind--all your mind on it.... Don't you understand, don't you see that this is everything and the sale is nothing?”