Part 54 (2/2)

”No, I don't see that at all.”

”It is what I have been praying for night and day--it is my escape. And he is granting it to me of his own consent--he consents to give me unmolested freedom.”

And she implored Mr. Prentice to use his skill and sagacity to their uttermost extent.

”I want it to be a renunciation of all possible claims. It must be absolutely clear that this is the end of our partners.h.i.+p.”

”Oh, as to that,” said Mr. Prentice, ”the partners.h.i.+p ends automatically with the sale of the business.”

”But put it in the deed--explicitly. Make him surrender every claim--even if it seems to you only the shadow of a claim.”

Then, without saying that she was to pay a price for Marsden's acquiescence, she repeated the agreed conditions of the separation. She became agitated when Mr. Prentice a.s.sured her that he would easily draft the deed.

”No, don't treat it as an easy task. Get counsel's opinion--the best counsel. Spare no expense--in this case. It is life and death to me....

Oh, Mr. Prentice, don't fail me _now_. Make the deed strong--make it so binding that he can never slip out of it.”

”I won't fail you,” said Mr. Prentice earnestly. ”We'll make your deed as strong--as effective--as is humanly possible--a deed that the Courts will be far more inclined to support than to upset.”

”Yes, yes,” she said, as if now satisfied. ”That's all I ask for--as strong as is humanly possible.”

XXVIII

It was a bright May morning and the suns.h.i.+ne streamed into Mr.

Prentice's room gaily and warmly, lighting up the old panelled walls, flickering on the bunch of keys that hung from the lock of the open safe, and making the tin boxes show queer reflections of the windows, the tops of houses on the other side of Hill Street, and even of the blue sky above the chimney-pots.

A large table had been brought in for the occasion; a clerk had furnished it with newly-filled ink-stands and nice clean blotting paper; another clerk was ready to receive the visitors as they came upstairs.

Mr. Prentice moved his armchair to the head of the table. He would sit here, and preside over the meeting. He glanced at the clock.--A quarter to twelve!

At noon Mr. Archibald Bence or his representative was to complete the purchase of Marsden & Thompson's by handing over cash; and at the same time the domestic affairs of Mrs. Marsden were to be wound up forever.

Mrs. Marsden was the first of the interested parties to arrive on the scene. She looked careworn and nervous; and, as she shook hands, Mr.

Prentice noticed that her fingers trembled.

”Now, my dear,” he said kindly, ”there's nothing to worry about. You sit by my side here, and take things quietly.”

Mrs. Marsden, however, preferred to sit away from the table, on a chair between the windows, with her back to the light.

”Nothing to worry about now,” repeated Mr. Prentice, confidently and cheerily. ”It'll soon be over.”

”But it won't be over without some unpleasantness.”

”Why? Mr. Marsden has been quite pleasant so far--really quite easy to deal with.”

<script>