Читать книгу The Passionate Quest онлайн

47 страница из 87

"You may as well show it to me," he persisted. "I can pretty well guess how things are."

Rosina opened a drawer and handed it reluctantly across to him—a small black account book which she had purchased with great pride seven months ago. Matthew drew a pencil from his pocket and glanced rapidly through the pages. He was silent for several moments, then he laid it down.

"Has all Philip's money gone?" he enquired.

"Every penny of it," Rosina answered.

"And yours?"

"When I have paid my share up to last Saturday," she admitted, "all mine will have gone, too."

He glanced back at the book.

"Philip has paid nothing for four weeks," he observed.

"Nothing at all."

"That means," he continued ruthlessly, "that you and I have been supporting him."

"Don't!" she begged. "Philip will pay us back. He is sure to have a story accepted presently."

"I am beginning to doubt it," Matthew replied. "In the meantime, it will be Saturday again directly. Philip will have nothing to contribute to the book. What about you?"