CHAPTER XXI 

A WOMAN'S CRY 

The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed. Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port. Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically. A cloud of restraint had hung over the little party. Duncombe raised his glass and half emptied its contents. Then he set it down and leaned back in his chair. 

"Well," he said, "I am ready for the inquisition. Go on, Andrew." 

Pelham fingered his own glass nervously. He seemed to find his task no easy one. 

"George," he said, "we are old friends. I want you to remember it. I want you also to remember that I am in a hideous state of worry and nerves"--he passed his hand over his forehead just above his eyes as though they were hurting him. "I am not behaving to you as a guest should to his host. I admit it freely. I have lost my temper more than once during the last twenty-four hours. I am sorry! Forgive me if you can, George!" 

"Willingly, Andrew," Duncombe answered. "I shall think no more about it." 

"At the same time," Pelham continued, "there is another point to be considered. Have you been quite fair to me, George? Remember that Phyllis Poynton is the one person whose existence reconciles me to life. You had never even heard her name before I sent for you. You went abroad, like the good fellow you are, to find her for me. You assure me that you have discovered--nothing. Let me put you upon your honor, George. Is this absolutely true?" 
what was left on the table?
Who did Pelham apoligize to?
why?
were they friends?
who else was there?
anyone else?
Does George forgive him?
What was George doing abroad?
was he looking for her for himself?
for who?
did he say he found her?
Does Pelham believe him?
What does Phyllis do to Pelham's life?
where were the men sitting?
what were the men drinking?
from where?
who's decanter was it?
who had the decanter first?
How was Pelham feeling?
Was George ready for the questioning?
the dessert
 everything except the dessert had been removed
George
 I am sorry! Forgive me if you can, George
He wasn't behaving as a guest should and lost his temper more than once int twenty-four hours
"I am not behaving to you as a guest should to his host. I admit it freely. I have lost my temper more than once during the last twenty-four hours
yes
George," he said, "we are old friends.
Duncombe
Duncombe
Pelham and Spencer
. Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically. A cloud of restraint had hung over the little party. Duncombe
yes
 Andrew," Duncombe answered. "I shall think no more about it.
Looking for Phyllis Poynton for Pelham
hyllis Poynton is the one person whose existence reconciles me to life. You had never even heard her name before I sent for you. You went abroad, like the good fellow you are, to find her for me
no
 like the good fellow you are, to find her for me.
Pelham
Pelham continued, "there is another point to be considered. Have you been quite fair to me, George? Remember that Phyllis Poynton i
no
You assure me that you have discovered--nothing.
He isn't sure
 Let me put you upon your honor, George. Is this absolutely true
existence reconciles him to life
Phyllis Poynton is the one person whose existence reconciles me to life
at a small round dining-table
The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table
port
a decanter of port
from a decanter
a decanter of port.
unknown
unknown
Duncombe f
Duncombe filled his own glas
nervous
Pelham fingered his own glass nervously.
seemed so
Willingly, Andrew," Duncombe answered. "I shall think no more about it."