Chapter 7
A silence fell between them which endured for a long time, such an understanding silence as is only possible in rare friendships. Paul began to fill his pipe, and Don almost regretfully broke the spell. "My real mission," he said, "is to release you from a bargain into which you entered blindfolded, without realising that you had to deal with an utterly unprincipled partner." "Whatever do you mean?" "I owe a debt to the late Michael Duveen, Paul, which you generously offered to assist me in liquidating--" Paul reached over and grasped Don's arm. "Stop there!" he cried, "and hear me. You are going to say that my enthusiasm has cooled--" "I am going to say nothing of the kind." "Ah, but you think it is so. Yet you know me so well, Don, that you should understand me better. I handed the
- Writer
