Beautiful--!)

Larry and Barty sat for awhile and talked, saying, as people will, at
such moments, dull things over and over again, uninspired,
conventional, stupid things. Both were equally afraid to say the
things that were in their minds about Tishy and Cloherty; Barty,
because he was so angry with her that he feared he might hurt Larry;
Larry, because he told himself he would have to sit down to the thing
squarely, and think it out, before he knew what to say about it. He
tried to concentrate on the death of Barty's father, but here,
strangely enough, Barty seemed equally unable to respond without
restraint.

"I've got to go on to Mount Music. They say the flood's down, and you
can get there now," he said, presently, in the voice from which all
the colour and life had died, "I've arranged for a hearse. I had a
wire, early, telling me what--what had happened. I was wondering,
Larry, would you come with me? I've no right, now, to ask you,
but--" His tired voice died on the sentence, his mournful eyes
sought Larry's and said what his lips failed to say.

"My dear old chap," said Larry, ardently, grateful for the chance of
showing Barty that he bore no ill will to him, "Of course I will!
Anything I could do to help you, I'd be only too glad--you mustn't
think anything will make a difference--"

They said little to each other as the motor splashed along the flooded
road. Each was absorbed in the effort to envisage the profound changes
that had befallen himself in a single night. More than once Barty
turned to Larry as if he were about to speak, and then turned away;
they came to the Mount Music entrance, and as the car turned in
through the gateway, Barty suddenly put his bony and pallid hand on
Larry's knee.

"There's a thing no one here knows but myself, and I didn't hear it
till two days ago, but I can't bear the weight of it any longer. I
can't give you all the details, but you may rely on what I say being
correct." He looked away from Larry out of the window. The car was
running swiftly up the smooth levels of the long avenue; he knew he
had no time for circumlocution. "My father told me," he began, "that
in some way, between himself and the Major a lot of money had passed.
The Major was greatly pressed for money--he wasn't getting his rents,
and there were many liabilities--my father got hold of them all. I
think he lent him a lot of money too--" He paused an instant, then he
rushed on with his story. "Anywa