“I know.”

“You must go to your mother.”

“Yes, I must go to her.”

“Of course, of course, and without delay. Well, I’ll take care of the little chap.”

“I know you will, better than I could.” David lifted his eyes to his old friend’s, then turned them away. “I feel him to be a sacred trust.” Again he paused. “It — would take a — long time to go to her first?”

“To — her?” For the instant the old man had forgotten Cassandra. Not so David.

“My wife. It will be desperately hard — for her.”