Part 20 (1/2)
”Do not permit that to bother you in the least. I was never going to recall it.”
”Was it so unpleasant?”
”On the contrary, I was much amused.”
”I did not tell you the truth.”
”So I have found out.”
”I do not believe that it was you,” impulsively.
”Thanks. I had nothing to do with Miss Harrigan's imprisonment.”
”Do you feel that you could make a confidant of me?”
He smiled. ”My dear Miss Fournier, I have come to the place where I distrust even myself.”
”Forgive my curiosity!”
Courtlandt held out his cup to Rao. ”I am glad to see you again.”
”Ah, Sahib!”
The little Frenchwoman was torn with curiosity and repression. She wanted to know what causes had produced this unusual drama which was unfolding before her eyes. To be presented with effects which had no apparent causes was maddening. It was not dissimilar to being taken to the second act of a modern problem play and being forced to leave before the curtain rose upon the third act. She had laid all the traps her intelligent mind could invent; and Nora had calmly walked over them or around. Nora's mind was Celtic: French in its adroitness and Irish in its watchfulness and tenacity. And now she had set her arts of persuasion in motion (aided by a piquant beauty) to lift a corner of the veil from this man's heart.
Checkmate!
”I should like to help you,” she said, truthfully.
”In what way?”
It was useless, but she continued: ”She does not know that you went to Flora Desimone's that night.”
”And yet she sent you to watch me.”
”But so many things happened afterward that she evidently forgot.”
”That is possible.”
”I was asleep when the pistol went off. Oh, you must believe that it was purely accidental! She was in a terrible state until morning. What if she had killed you, what if she had killed you! She seemed to hark upon that phrase.”
Courtlandt turned a sober face toward her. She might be sincere, and then again she might be playing the first game over again, in a different guise. ”It would have been embarra.s.sing if the bullet had found its mark.”
He met her eyes squarely, and she saw that his were totally free from surprise or agitation or interest.
”Do you play chess?” she asked, divertingly.
”Chess? I am very fond of that game.”
”So I should judge,” dryly. ”I suppose you look upon me as a meddler.
Perhaps I am; but I have nothing but good will toward you; and Nora would be very angry if she knew that I was discussing her affairs with you. But I love her and want to make her happy.”