"Not at all, not at all," said John, waking, perhaps, to a sense of his rudeness and returning to the fireplace. "On the contrary," he continued, "it is as well that you should be here. There will probably be hysterics during the course of the day, and I have no doubt you know what is the right thing to do under the circumstances. There seems to be a horticultural show here," he added, as he noticed for the first time the vases of flowers on the tables. "They are beautiful roses," answered Dolly in a conciliatory tone. "Yes," said John, drawing in his tin lips. "Beautiful, expensive--and not particularly appropriate to-day. One of my wife's old friends, I suppose. Do you know who sent them?" "Stubbs brought them in, a little while ago," Dolly replied. "I believe there was no note with them." "No note," repeated John, still in a tone of discontent. "It is rude to send flowers without even a card. It is assuming too much intimacy." "Is it?" asked Dolly innocently. "Of course it is," answered John. "Half an hour," he said, after a moment's pause. "Half an hour! How long is it since that note came?" "About twenty minutes I should think." "Doctors are generally punctual," observed Darche. "They will be here in a few minutes." "Shall you be present?" asked Dolly. "Certainly not," John answered with decision. "It would give me very little satisfaction to see my father proved an idiot by three fools." "Fools!" repeated Dolly in surprise. "Yes. All doctors are fools. The old gentleman's head is as clear as mine. What difference does it make if he does not recognise people he only half knows? He understands everything connected with the business, and that is the principal thing. After all, what has he to do? He signs his name to the papers that are put before him. That is all. He could do that if he really had softening of the brain, as they pretend he has. As for electing another president at the present moment it is out of the question." "Yes, so I should suppose," said Dolly. John turned sharply upon her. "So you should suppose? Why should you suppose any such thing?" "I have heard that the Company is in trouble," answered Dolly, calmly. John opened his lips as though he were about to make a sharp answer, but checked himself and turned away. "Yes," he said more quietly, "I suppose that news is public property by this time. There they are," he added, as his ear caught the distant tinkle of the door bell. "Shall I go?" asked Dolly for the third time. "No," answered Darche, "I will go out and meet them. Stay here please. I will send my wife to you presently." CHAPTER V.