Davenant, too, nodded, but said nothing.
"How did you find papa to-day?"
"Pretty fair, Miss Guion; only, perhaps, a little more down on his luck
than usual."
"The excitement kept him up at first. Now that that's over--"
Ashley interrupted her, addressing himself to Davenant. "I understand
that it's to you we owe Mr. Guion's relief from the most pressing part
of his cares."
Davenant's face clouded. It was the thing he was afraid of--Ashley's
intrusion into the little domain of helpfulness which for a few days he
had made his own. He answered warily:
"My business with Mr. Guion, Colonel, has been private. I hope you won't
mind if we leave it so."
Ashley's manner took on the diplomatic persuasiveness he used toward
restive barbaric potentates.
"Not a bit, my dear fellow. Of course it's private--only not as regards
Miss Guion and me. You simply _must_ allow us to say how grateful we are
for your help, even though it need be no more than temporary."
The word produced its effect. Davenant looked from Ashley to Olivia
while he echoed it. "Temporary?"
Ashley nodded again. "You have no objection, I presume, to that?"
"If Mr. Guion is ever in a position to pay me back," Davenant said,
slowly, in some bewilderment, "of course I'll take it.
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