Page 368 - tender-is-the-night

III

One morning a week later, stopping at the desk for his
mail, Dick became aware of some extra commotion outside:
Patient Von Cohn Morris was going away. His parents, Aus-
tralians, were putting his baggage vehemently into a large
limousine, and beside them stood Doctor Ladislau protest-
ing with ineffectual attitudes against the violent gesturings
of Morris, senior. The young man was regarding his embar-
kation with aloof cynicism as Doctor Diver approached.
‘Isn’t this a little sudden, Mr. Morris?’
Mr. Morris started as he saw Dick—his florid face and the
large checks on his suit seemed to turn off and on like elec-
tric lights. He approached Dick as though to strike him.
‘High time we left, we and those who have come with
us,’ he began, and paused for breath. ‘It is high time, Doctor
Diver. High time.’
‘Will you come in my office?’ Dick suggested.
‘Not I! I’ll talk to you, but I’m washing my hands of you
and your place.’
He shook his finger at Dick. ‘I was just telling this doctor
here. We’ve wasted our time and our money.’
Doctor Ladislau stirred in a feeble negative, signalling
up a vague Slavic evasiveness. Dick had never liked Ladis-
lau. He managed to walk the excited Australian along the
path in the direction of his office, trying to persuade him to

368 Tender is the Night