Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. III, 1889.djvu/180

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you mean to say,” cried Clem, when she was in the cab with her husband speeding back to Burton Crescent—“you mean to say as you’ve left them people to do what they like?”

“I suppose I know my own business,” replied Joseph, wishing to convey the very impression which in fact he did,—that he had the will in his pocket.

On reaching home he sat down at once and penned a letter to Messrs. Percival & Peel, formally apprising them of what had happened. Clem sat by and watched him. Having sealed the envelope, he remarked:

“I’m going out for a couple of hours.”

“Then I shall go with you.”

“You’ll do nothing of the kind. Why, what do you mean, you great, gaping fool?” The agitation of his nerves made him break