Lacey could not speak, but inclined his head.
David's figure seemed to shrink for a moment, his face had a withered look, and his head fell forward in a mood of terrible dejection.
"Saadat! Oh, my God, Saadat, don't take it so!" said Lacey brokenly, and stepped between David and Nahoum.

He could not bear that the stricken face and figure should be seen by Nahoum, whom he believed to be secretly gloating.

"Saadat," he said brokenly, "God has always been with you; He hasn't forgotten you now.
"The work of years," David murmured, and seemed not to hear.
"When God permits, shall man despair ?" interposed Nahoum, in a voice that lingered on the words.

Nahoum accomplished what Lacey had failed to do.

His voice had pierced to some remote corner in David's nature, and roused him.