ry."

"We haven't made it up--never shall from what I can see," Jimmy snapped
at him. "Oh, for the Lord's sake let's talk about something else."

Sangster raised his troubled eyes to the dark starless sky. He had
been so sure everything was all right. Jimmy had made no recent
confidence to him. He had thought Christine looked well and happy--and
now, after all. . . .

"It looks as if we shall have some more rain," he said dully. "It's
been awful weather this week, hasn't it?"

"Damn the weather!" said Jimmy Challoner.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE UNEXPECTED

Four days passed away, and still the Great Horatio had not arrived in
London. He had sent a couple of telegrams from Marseilles explaining
that a chill had delayed him.

"Sly old dog," Jimmy growled to Sangster. "He means that he's having a
thundering good time where he is."

Sangster laughed.

"Marseilles isn't much of a place. Perhaps he really is ill."

Jimmy grunted something unintelligible.

"I doubt it," he added. "And the devil of it is that Christine doesn't
believe me. She doesn't think the old idiot's coming home at all; she
doesn't believe anything I tell her--now."

"Nonsense!" But Sangster's eyes looked anxious. He had seen a great
deal during the last four days, and for the first time there was a tiny
doubt in his mind. Had Christine really lost her love for Jimmy? He
was obliged to admit that it seemed as if she had. She never spoke to
him if she could help it, and he knew that Jimmy was as conscious of
the change as he, knew that Jimmy was worrying himself to a shadow.

"Your brother will turn up when you're least expecting him," he said in
his most matter-of-fact voice. "You'll see if he doesn't--and then
everything will come right."

Jimmy grunted. He fidgeted round the room and came to anchorage in
front of the window. He stood staring out into the not very cheerful
street.

Sangster knocked the ashes from his pipe and rose.

"Well, we may as well be going," he said. "I thought you told me we
were to lunch with your wife."

"So I did. She's gone shopping this morning--didn't want me. I said
we'd meet her at the Savoy at one. I want to call in at my rooms
first, if you don't mind." Jimmy spoke listlessly. He was a great
deal with Sangster nowadays. Christine so often made excuses for him
not to be with her, and he had got into that state when he could not
tolerate his own company. He dreaded being left