It was a difficult problem, this. Putting his own
extraordinary sensations into the background, he was face to face
with something which he did not comprehend, and he disliked the
position intensely. After all, delay seemed safest.
"Madam," he protested, "a few hours more or less can make but
little difference."
"That is for me to judge!" she exclaimed. "You say that because
you do not understand. A few hours may make all the difference
in the world."
He shook his head.
"I will tell you exactly what is in my mind," he said,
deliberately. "The young lady was terrified when she saw you
that night accidentally in the chemist's shop. She almost
dragged me away, and although she was almost fainting when we
reached the taxicab, her greatest and chief anxiety was that we
should get away before you could follow us. I cannot forget
this. Until I have received her permission, therefore, to
disclose her whereabouts, we will, if you please, speak of
something else."
He rose to his feet and glancing around was just in time to see
the change in the face of his companion. That eloquently
pleading smile had died away from her lips, her teeth were
clenched. She looked like a woman struggling hard to control
some overwhelming passion. Without the smile her lips seemed
hard, even cruel. There were evil things shining out of her
eyes. Tavernake felt chilled, almost afraid.
"We will see the rest of the house," she declared coldly.
Pages:
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74