''That''s enough!'' said Mrs Sucksby. ''You hear me? I won''t have it spoke of!''
She also took a step towards him.
''Poor you,'' he said again, still laughing. Then he called: ''Mr Ibbs, sir, did you know of this, too?''
Mr Ibbs did not answer.
''Know what?'' asked John, his eyes like two dark points. He looked at me. ''Know what?''
''I don''t know,'' I said.
''Know nothing,'' said Maud. ''Know nothing, nothing!'' She was still moving slowly forward, her eyes—that seemed almost black, now, and glittered worse than ever—all the time on Gentleman''s face. I saw her put her hand upon the dark edge of the table, as if to guide herself about it. Mrs Sucksby saw it too, I think. Perhaps she also saw something else. For she started, and then spoke quickly.
''Susie,'' she said, ''I want you to go. Take your pal and go.'' ''I''m not going anywhere,'' I said.
''No Susie, you stay,'' said Gentleman, in a rich sort of voice. ''Don''t mind Mrs Sucksby''s wishes. You have minded them too long. What are they to you, after all?'' ''Richard,'' said Maud, almost pleading.
''Gentleman,'' said Mrs Sucksby, her eyes still on Maud. ''Dear boy. Be silent, will you? I am afraid.''
''Afraid?'' he answered. ''You? I should say you never knew fear, in all your life. I should say your hard old leathery heart is beating perfectly quietly now, behind your hard old leathery breast.''﹌﹌