Part 43 (1/2)
She looked at him steadily and unflinchingly. Her eyebrows were contracted; her face had hardened.
”d.i.c.k, this isn't fair. It is something that I can't allow,” and she spoke slowly and significantly. ”Please pull yourself together. You can't go on doing things of this sort. They are dangerous.”
”Will you shut up, and stop nagging?”
It was by no means the first time that he had stuck to money when it should have pa.s.sed through his hands to hers. Indeed in all their private transactions, whenever a chance offered, he had promptly cheated her. But during the last six months it had come to her knowledge that he was not confining his trickery to transactions which could be considered as outside the business.
”d.i.c.k, I _must_ go on. It is for your sake as well as mine. There is a principle at stake.”
”Rot.”
”What you are doing is dishonest. It is embezzlement!” and she turned from him, and looked at the empty fireplace.
With an oath he seized her arm, and swung her round till she faced him again.
”Take that back--or you'll be sorry for it. Do you dare to say that word again? Now we'll see.” Holding her with one hand, he swayed her to and fro, as if to force her down to her knees; and his other hand was raised threateningly on a level with her face.
”Are you going to strike me?” And she looked at him with still unflinching eyes. ”Why don't you do it? Why are you hesitating? Oh, my G.o.d--it only wanted this to justify everything.”
Her courage seemed to increase his hesitation. He lowered the threatening hand, but continued to hold her tightly.
”Say what you mean. Out with it.”
”d.i.c.k, you know very well what I mean.... It must be stopped.”
”What must be stopped?”
”Your dangerous irregularities.”
”I don't know what you're talking about. Someone has been telling you a pack of lies. You're ready to believe any lie against _me_.”
”There was a cheque of the firm--made out to bearer--on the third of last month.”
”I know nothing about it.”
”No more did I. They sent for me to the bank--to look at the signatures and the initials.”
”Well?”
”I told them it was all right.”
”Well, what about it?”
”There was the hundred pounds that was to be paid Osborn & Gibbs on account--to keep them quiet. It was written off in the books--you showed their acknowledgment for it.... But what's the use of going on? d.i.c.k, pull yourself together. I hold the _proof_ of your folly.”
He had let her go, and was walking about the room with his hands in his pockets. When he spoke again, it was sullenly and grumblingly.
”I know nothing whatever about it. I can keep accounts in my head just as well as in the books.... If I seem unbusinesslike--it is because I'm called away so often; and those fools don't understand my system.... I go for facts, and don't bother about all the fuss of book-keeping--which is generally in a muddle whenever I ask for plain statements.... No, you've got on to a wrong track. But I'll go to the bottom of the matter to-morrow--or the day after. I'm busy with other things to-morrow.”
”Never mind what's past, d.i.c.k; but go into matters for the future.”
”All right. Then say no more. Don't nag me.... And look here. Of course I fully intend to pay you your share. I admit the debt. I owe you fifty pounds.”