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232 Leda and the Swan
He bent forward, palms thrust out.
"I'll give you now, on the spot, as much
"Well, dear."
"He told you I was no good, didn't
as you would ever get for it. It pretty he?"
nearly knocked me over when I saw it—
and I'm fairly used to pictures, too."
"Are you sure you ought to talk?"
"Oh, yes, they've done with me for a
Mrs. Farrant was silent. Already the time. The pain isn't bad now. Good
figures had crowded back into her brain, Heavens, I must talk while I can!"
and if she closed her eyes for the merest
flutter, she could see the amount of Windisch's
fee (which Doctor Hynes, by prearrangement
"He said there was, with an operation,
one chance in a hundred."
"What idiots they are !" he murmured
with her, had murmured softly.
in her ear as he went out) subtracted "Why?"
from her bank balance. She could see "To think one will take their hundredth
the sharp line drawn beneath, and the chance. The ninety-nine chances are
three figures of the remainder.
"I don't need to tell you," Mannheimer's
voice went on, "that that picture
that I should die of it, aren't they?"
She nodded.
'"A pox upon them!' as one would
ought to hang in the finest collection in have said in a sturdier day. And how
the country."
"No, you don't need to tell me that."
much did he stick you for saying that?"
She told him.
He drew out his cheque-book. "Say "Good Lord, my dear, we can't afford
when, Mrs. Farrant. Unless you have to it!"
consult your husband further about it."
Then, as she did not answer: "I hope he is
not seriously ill."
"Very seriously, Mr. Mannheimer."
"Oh, yes, we can."
"Has some one left you money?"
"No; but we can afford anything that's
necessary."
"I am exceedingly sorry. America has "Did you send for Mannheimer?"
no one living who can touch him, in my "Yes. He came running." She patted
opinion."
"I must go to him now." She flung his pillow.
"And did he want the stuff?"
the covering back over the picture, then Mrs. Farrant rose and pulled down the
walked to the door and opened it for window-shade a few inches. "He's to
Mannheimer to pass out. He followed send me a cheque to-night."
her, and she locked the door behind her. "How much?"
"You don't trust me?" He laughed. She pushed the shade up again, but
"I don't trust any one with that. I'll Leo did not notice her gesture.
let you know if I think of selling." "The cheque hasn't come. But, according
to what he said, I may trust him
He shook his head. "Any price you
like, Mrs. Farrant. I shan't haggle with to do very well by us. So you see we can
you. It honestly won't pay you anything afford anything that is likely to do us any
to wait. I tell you frankly, Gillenton good."
would take it to-morrow—at my price." "I'm very glad." He smiled at her,
She parted from him on the threshold as she sat down again beside him. "I
of her sitting-room. "I'll write, if I decide."
time, but honestly I didn't think there
haven't seen them since the beginning of
Mannheimer paused an instant, leaning
was much hope. They weren't much, as
on the stair-rail. Then he looked up I remember the lot. You kept getting in
at her and whispered hoarsely: "I'll take the way, you know." His hand covered
the sketches, if you'll let me have the big hers. "And besides, I hardly knew anything
one now."
then."
Mrs. Farrant nodded. "I'll let you She frowned slightly. "That's Mannheimer's
affair, I think. So you will try
know," she repeated. Then she went
into the room and closed the door. the operation?"
"Well, dear?" Leo Farrant greeted He laughed weakly. Sensations that
her with a smile. Miss Dall went out, and were the precursors of pain were coming
Marie Farrant bent to kiss her husband. upon him. "I should think not! I've