Somewhat perplexed, General Carden put down the book he had been reading, and rose from his chair to greet them. True, Tommy occasionally favoured him with his presence at this hour, but why should he drag along with him a man whom he had only once met, and that man, moreover, a priest? He appeared, too, somewhat embarrassed. It was the elder man who was at his ease.
“We came to see you, General,” said Tommy, shaking hands and introducing Father O’Sullivan, “because we thought—that is, Muriel—well, something unusual has happened.” Neither speech nor introduction was made after Tommy’s customary suave fashion.
“Ah!” said General Carden, eyeing them both keenly, while his heart gave a little anxious throb. Unusual news can easily portend bad news. Also Tommy’s manner was a trifle disconcerting.
“It is,” said Tommy, “about your son.”
“Ah!” said General Carden again, this time with a quick intake of his breath. He put his hand up to the mantelpiece. The floor seemed not quite so solid as he would desire it to be.
“He,” blurted out Tommy quickly, “was—was not guilty. Father O’Sullivan will tell you.”
Thus in the simplest, most commonplace of language can momentous announcements be made. It would seem as though there should be a grander language, a finer flow of words, for these statements and yet in such bald fashion are they invariably announced.
There was no question now but that the room was certainly revolving. Presently it steadied itself, and General Carden knew that he was sitting by the fire, the two men opposite to him, and that the old priest was talking. Gradually his mind adjusted itself to facts: he heard and understood the words that were being spoken. When they stopped there was a silence. There is so astonishingly little to be said at such times, though the tittle-tattle of small events will supply us with endless talk.
“Thank you for coming to tell me,” said General Carden gravely, and he pushed a box of cigars towards the two men. Again silence.
Presently Tommy began to talk, quietly, easily, now. He put forward Muriel’s suggestions, her advice, her plans. He explained minutely the scheme she had proposed.
General Carden listened intent.
“It is like her kind-heartedness to suggest it,” he said, as Tommy paused, “and yours to follow it up. I have no notion where he is, nor—nor have his publishers. I happened to ask them the other day.” He made the statement with an airy carelessness of manner.
“Then,” said Tommy with a firmness which [Pg 286]Muriel would distinctly have approved, “I start to-morrow.”
Thus definitely was the decision given.
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