Tempest's heart beat unevenly as Dick followed his knock into the room, and gave his report succinctly, coldly erect and official as Tempest himself. There was a little pause when he had done. There was a moment when both men desired to break the barrier down. But the moment passed; killed by the strength of that desire, and Dick went out, leaving Tempest to settle back to his work.
These seven weeks had been harder for Tempest than for Dick. But they had done him good, too. No word of removal had come for him yet; and here, where he had fallen, he had to take his stand again with all the spirit and the force that were left to him. Meals in Grange's big dining-room with Andree to wait on him were one of the hardest things to face. Yet he faced them from the first, showing himself no more mercy than Dick had shown him. But the eager glow on Andree's skin when Dick's name was spoken was a thing which he could not steel himself against. He knew that she was counting the hours when this new-found love of hers could claim its own. And he knew, too, that it would be known all along the rivers that Dick had taken Andree from him, and that the speculations would be many regarding what the inspector would do. This last was torment to his sensitive soul, and at first he winced from every new pair of eyes that met his. But that also was conquered as time went by.
And then he began to realise what he owed the man who had turned him back to his duty again; who, even in this suffering and struggle, had given him back a peace which he had missed during those months when he ceased to struggle. He recognised that he had had no right to impute an unworthy motive to this thing which Dick had done. Dick was too weak in many ways and too strong in others. He had been ill-judged, cruel, selfish; but he was not a liar. With Tempest's help it might happen that this matter would not fall so heavily on Andree as he had feared. Love can be overcome; was he not learning that for himself? And the old friendship could be retained, if God willed.
When Dick had left him he sat for a little, looking on the papers which Dick had brought. The very ring of the man's step, the very sound of his voice had been pain.
