Part 25 (1/2)
”What is the Louvre like?” she asked, tremulously, determined to be brave.
As he had seen the Louvre only from the outside, his imaginary description was cautious, general, and brief.
After a silence, Rue asked whether he thought that their suitcases were quite safe.
”Certainly,” he smiled. ”I checked them.”
”And you're sure they are safe?”
”Of course, darling. What worries you?”
And, as she hesitated, he remembered that she had forgotten to put something into her suitcase and that the chauffeur had driven her back to the house to get it while he himself went into the Gayfield House to telephone Stull.
”What was it you went back for, Rue?” he asked.
”One thing I went back for was my money.”
”Money? What money?”
”Money my grandmother left me. I was to have it when I married--six thousand dollars.”
”You mean you have it in your suitcase?” he asked, astonished.
”Yes, half of it.”
”A cheque?”
”No, in hundreds.”
”Bills?”
”Yes. I gave father three thousand. I kept three thousand.”
”In bills,” he repeated, laughing. ”Is your suitcase locked?”
”Yes. I insisted on having my money in cash. So Mr. Wexall, of the Mohawk Bank, sent a messenger with it last evening.”
”But,” he asked, still immensely amused, ”why do you want to travel about with three thousand dollars in bills in your suitcase?”
She flushed a little, tried to smile:
”I don't know why. I never before had any money. It is--pleasant to know I have it.”
”But I'll give you all you want, Rue.”
”Thank you.... I have my own, you see.”
”Of course. Put it away in some bank. When you want pin money, ask me.”