Part 66 (1/2)
”Do you--ah--foresee any likelihood of either of us arriving at that destination?” he inquired.
”Well, _I'm_ hopin' to stay out, for a spell anyway. Mr.
Phillips--Egbert--yes, yes, Egbert, of course; we're gettin' better acquainted all the time, so we just mustn't stand on ceremony. Egbert, how about those City of Boston 4-1/2s you put up as security over there in New York? What are you goin' to do about _them_?”
Egbert had strolled to the window and was looking out. He continued to look out. The captain, his gaze fixed upon the beautifully draped, even though the least bit s.h.i.+ny, shoulders of the Phillips' coat, watched eagerly for some s.h.i.+ver, some sign of agitation, however slight. But there was none. The sole indication that the shot just fired had had any effect was the length of time Egbert took before turning. When he did turn he was still blandly smiling. He walked back to the rocker and settled himself upon its patchwork cus.h.i.+on.
”Yes?” he queried. ”You were saying----”
”I was speakin' of those two one thousand dollar City of Boston bonds you sent your brokers, you know. Would you mind tellin' me how you got those bonds?”
Mr Phillips lifted one slim leg over the other. He lifted two slim hands and placed their finger tips together.
”Kendrick,” he asked, ”you will pardon me for speaking plainly? Thank you so much. I have already listened to you for some time--more time than I should have spared. For some reason you have--ah--seen fit to--shall we say pursue me here. Having found me, you make a most--pardon me again--unreasonable and childish demand on the part of young Kent. I cannot grant it. Now is there any use wasting more time by asking--pardon me once more--impertinent questions concerning my affairs? You can scarcely--well, even you, my dear Kendrick, can hardly expect me to answer them. Don't you think this--ah--extremely pleasant interview had better end pleasantly--by ending now?”
He would have risen once more, but Sears motioned him to remain in the rocker. The captain leaned forward.
”Egbert,” he said briskly, ”I'm busy, too; but I have spent a good many hours and some dollars to get at you and I shan't leave you until I get at least a part of what I came after. Those Boston bonds----”
”Are my property, sir.”
”Well, I don't know. The last anybody heard they were the property of Mrs. Cordelia Berry. Now you say they're yours. That's one of the matters to be settled before you and I part company, Egbert.”
Mr. Phillips' aristocratic form stiffened. Slowly he rose to his feet.
”You are insulting,” he proclaimed. ”That will do. There is the door.”
”Yes, I see it. It's a nice door; the grainin' on it seems to be pretty well done. How did you get hold of those bonds, Egbert?”
”If you don't go, I shall.”
”All right. Then I'll go with you. You shan't take the three-fifteen or any other train till we've settled this and some other questions. Oh, it's a fact. No hard feelin', you know; just business, that's all.”
Egbert moved toward the door. His caller rose to follow him. The captain often wondered afterward whether or not Phillips would really have left the room if there had been no interruption. The question remained a question because at that moment there was a knock on the other side of the door. It had a marked effect upon Egbert. He started, frowned and shot another glance at the clock.
”Excuse me,” said Mrs. Backus, opening the door a crack, ”but my husband has come.”
Phillips seemed relieved, yet troubled, too.
”Yes--ah--yes,” he said. ”Will you kindly ask him to wait? Thank you.”
The lady closed the door again. Egbert took a turn across the room and back. Kendrick smiled cheerfully.
”About those bonds?” he observed.
Phillips faced him.
”The bonds,” he declared, ”are mine. How I got them is not your business in the least.”
”Just a minute, just a minute. Cordelia Berry----”
”Did Mrs. Berry tell you that I had them?”