Part 30 (2/2)
”It is a useful habit,” said Mrs Stephen quietly
”Just so,” Lawrence agreed ”Still it's a habit that ought to be carefully controlled and not, so to speak, be indulged out of sentih he thought he had said no more about Carmen and Alice than was needed to make his narrative clear
”First of all,” Lawrence resumed, ”he takes up my defense, then he must help Carmen, and I think deserved the trouble in which she involved him Next he seeave Foster a curious quiet smile ”I wondered what Alice would think of you and hope she was grateful”
Foster saw Lucy's interest, and wondered whether he had told more than he meant, but his comrade's ained I'd made it plain that your sister wasn't the only relative your carelessness alarmed”
”You did The situation wasn't without its hue adventures onmade aith me However, I understand that Alice didn't take this view?”
”She did not,” said Foster shortly, and Lawrence rang a bell
”Get raht, and Lawrence filled it up and gave it to the man
Then he fixed his eyes on Foster and remarked carelessly: ”I've sent it in your naht so news to hihtn't you to have added some particulars?” Mrs Stephen asked
”On the whole, I don't think so For one thing, Jake's taciturn lish telegrae had been sent to Alice and Lawrence was satisfied with hi, but Lawrence's approval ht not count for much
”That's done with,” the latter resumed ”Since you didn't find Daly at Banff, we have to decide if Car there I rather think we had better leave it to Mrs
Stephen and Lucy”
”I iine she told the truth,” Lucy replied ”If she had loved the ht, after all, have tried to protect hiirl who found she had been cheated, would be capable of ruining hie”
”But I didn't state that she was ambitious and selfish,” objected Foster
Lawrence's eyes twinkled ”You don't realize all your talents, Jake
For one thing, you have a gift for narrative, and the portrait you drew of Carmen with a stroke or tas lifelike Then, when youDaly away, you couldn't have taken a more effective line if you had been an ambassador What do you think, Mrs
Stephen?”
”Mr Foster seeot a shock that found out her weak points I believe she meant to ruin her worthless lover”
”So do I,” Lawrence agreed ”I expect you have made Jake sorry he was firm, but I'd warned him about Carmen and she doesn't deserve land and how did he find out that I'd been at Banff?”
”If you'll tell ht help to solve the puzzle,” Foster replied
Lawrence nation ”I suppose it et as well as I expected There was a good deal of sea-fog on the coast and after a time I went farther south That's one reason I didn't write; I felt languid and dejected and didn't want to alarot rather worse; besides I found lounging tireso north and her doctor told me that dry cold mountain air was the best cure for troubles like e up the coast”
”Perhaps you had better describe hie and is thin and dark; an a fellow and reuess his nationality; he seeood manners, but somehow one missed----”