Volume VII - Modernist Magazines Project

By Ella D'Arcy 299" Oh, your rights ! " interrupted Shergold. " Come, come.You're forgetting our agreement. The boy remains in hismother's care, and under her control, till he's one-and-twenty,and you're not to interfere.""But it was understood that I could see him whenever Iwished.""And so you can. But you must go to see him ; Lily can'tlet him leave her, to come to you. If you choose to exile yourselfto Le Tas, and lead this solitary, half-savage sort of life, youcan't complain that you're prevented from seeing Phil. It's yourown fault. You ought to be living at Rozaine."" Tell my wife what she ought or ought not to do, since she'sfool enough to listen to you," broke out Le Mesurier hotly, " andbe damned to you both ! I shall do as I please. What businessis it of yours where or how I live ? "Shergold shrugged his shoulders." You appear to be as violent in temper, and as unrestrained inlanguage, as ever," he said calmly. " A pretty example you'd setyour son ! But we're straying from the point. Let's give ourattention to the business that brought me here, and get it donewith." He drew a large envelope from the inner breast-pocket ofhis coat."You may save yourself the trouble of opening that," LeMesurier informed him. " Let Lily send me the boy for a month,and I'll consider the matter. Under present conditions, I refuseeven to discuss it with you."" Nonsense," said Shergold. " You know she won't send youthe boy. The notion is preposterous. Now, as for thesepapers——"" I refuse to discuss the matter," Le Mesuri-er repeated. " Sendme Phil, and we'll see. But, until then, I refuse to discuss itwith