Burke's eyes came to him again. He smiled faintly at the woebegone
visage before him. "Cheer up, Donovan!" he said. "You're all
right. You've had a beastly job, but you've done it decently. I'm
going back to my wife now. She breakfasted upstairs. We shall
probably make tracks this evening."
"Ah!" groaned Kelly. "Your wife'll never speak to me again after
this. And I thinking her the most charming woman in the world!"
Burke turned to go, "Don't fret yourself on that account!" he said.
"My wife will treat my friends exactly as she would treat her own."
He spoke with a confidence that aroused Kelly's admiration. "Sure,
you know how to manage a woman, don't ye, Burke, me lad?" he said.
He watched the broad figure till it was out of sight, then got up
and went out into the hot sunshine, intent upon another quest.
Burke went on steadily up the stairs till he reached the top story
where he met a servant carrying a breakfast-tray with the meal
practically untouched upon it. With a brief word Burke took the
tray himself, and went on with the same air of absolute purpose to
the door at the end of the passage.
Here, just for a moment he paused, standing in semi-darkness,
listening. Then he knocked. Sylvia's voice answered him, and he
entered.
She was dressed and standing by the window. "Oh, please, Burke!"
she said quickly, at sight of what he carried.
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