Part 44 (2/2)
He seemed more puzzled than guilty, and once more she chafed against the fact that she could give him no opportunity for defending himself.
”Well,” he responded, ”I'm sorry; but it brings us back to my first question.”
The situation was becoming painful as well as embarra.s.sing, and Evelyn, perhaps unreasonably, grew more angry with the man.
”I'm afraid that you either are clever at dissembling or have no imagination.”
Vane held himself in hand with an effort.
”I dare say you're right on the latter point. It's a fact I'm sometimes thankful for. It leaves one more free to go straight ahead. Now, as I see the dried-fruit man coming in search of you and you evidently don't mean to answer me, I can't urge the matter.”
He turned away and left her wondering why he had abandoned his usual persistency, unless it was that an uneasy conscience had driven him from the field. It did not occur to her that the man had under strong provocation merely yielded to the prompting of a somewhat hasty temper.
In the meanwhile he crossed the room in an absent-minded manner and presently found himself near Jessy, who made room for him at her side.
”It looks as if you were in disgrace to-night,” she said sweetly, and waited with concealed impatience for his answer. If Evelyn had been sufficiently clever or bold to give him a hint as to what he was suspected of, Jessy foresaw undesirable complications.
”I think I am,” he owned without reflection. ”The trouble is that, while I may deserve it on general grounds, I'm unconscious of having done anything very reprehensible in particular.”
Jessy was sensible of considerable relief. The man was sore and resentful; he would not press Evelyn for an explanation, and the breach would widen. In the meanwhile she must play her cards skillfully.
”Then that fact should sustain you,” she smiled. ”We shall miss you after to-morrow--more than one of us. Of course, it's too late to tell you that you are not altogether wise in resolving to go.”
”Everybody has been telling me the same thing for the last few weeks,”
he laughed.
”Then I'll only wish you every success. It's a pity that Bendle and the other man haven't paid up yet.”
She met his surprised look with an engaging smile.
”You needn't be astonished. There's not very much goes on in the city that I don't hear about you know how men talk business here, and it's interesting to look on, even when one can't actually take a hand in the game. It's said that the watchers sometimes see the most of it.”
”To tell the truth, it's the uncertainty as to what those two men might do that has chiefly been worrying me.”
”Of course. I believe that I understand the position--they've been hanging fire, haven't they? But I've reasons for believing they'll come to a decision before very long.”
Vane looked troubled.
”That's interesting, but I ought to warn you that your brother--”
Jessy stopped him with a smile.
”I've no intention of giving him away; and, as a matter of fact, I think you are a little prejudiced against him. After all, he's not your greatest danger. There's a cabal against you among your shareholders.”
The man knit his brows, but she knew by the way he looked at her that he admired her ac.u.men.
”Yes,” he responded; ”I've suspected that.”
”There are two courses open to you--the first is to put off your expedition.”
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