Part 34 (1/2)

”That you wanted? For some particular purpose?”

”No; only that I might have a few dollars in my purse, as other women do. It all comes back to the same old quarrel, Mr. Stone. You don't know! can't make you understand--how humiliating, how galling it is for a woman to have no money of her own! n.o.body understands--but I have been subjected to shame and embarra.s.sment hundreds of times for the want of a bit of ready money!”

”I think I do understand, Mrs. Embury. I know how hard it must have been for a proud woman to have that annoyance. Did Mr. Embury object to the lady who was your hostess that evening?”

”Yes, he did. Mrs. Desternay is an old school friend of mine, but Mr.

Embury never liked her, and he objected more strenuously because she had the bridge games.”

”And the lady's att.i.tude toward you?”

”Fifi? Oh, I don't know. We've always been friends, generally speaking, but we've had quarrels now and then--sometimes we'd be really intimate, and then again, we wouldn't speak for six weeks at a time.

Just petty tiffs, you know, but they seemed serious at the time.”

”I see. h.e.l.lo, here's McGuire!”

Ferdinand, with a half-apologetic look, ushered in a boy, with red hair, and a very red face. He was a freckled youth, and his bright eyes showed quick perception as they darted round the room, and came to rest on Miss Ames, on whom he smiled broadly. ”This is my a.s.sistant,”

Stone said, casually; ”his name is Terence McGuire, and he is an invaluable help. Anything doing, son?”

”Not partickler. Kin I sit and listen?”

Clearly the lad was embarra.s.sed, probably at the unaccustomed luxury of his surroundings and the presence of so many high-bred strangers. For Terence, or Fibsy, as he was nicknamed, was a child of the streets, and though a clever a.s.sistant to Fleming Stone in his career, the boy seldom accompanied his employer to the homes of the aristocracy. When he did do so, he was seized with a shyness that was by no means evident when he was in his more congenial surroundings.

He glanced bashfully at Eunice, attracted by her beauty, but afraid to look at her attentively. He gazed at Mason Elliott with a more frank curiosity; and then he cast a furtive look at Aunt Abby, who was herself smiling at him.

It was a genial, whole-souled smile, for the old lady had a soft spot in her heart for boys, and was already longing to give him some fruit and nuts from the sideboard.

Fibsy seemed to divine her att.i.tude, and he grinned affably, and was more at his ease.

But he sat quietly while the others went on discussing the details of the case.

Eunice was amazed at such a strange partner for the great man, but she quickly thought that a street urchin like that could go to places and learn of side issues in ways which the older man could not compa.s.s so conveniently.

Presently Fibsy slipped from his seat, and quietly went into the bedrooms.

Eunice raise her eyebrows slightly, but Fleming Stone, observing, said, ”Don't mind, Mrs. Embury. The lad is all right. I'll vouch for him.”

”A queer helper,” remarked Elliott.

”Yes; but very worth-while. I rely on him in many ways, and he almost never fails to help me. He's now looking over the bedrooms, just as I did, and he'll disturb nothing.”

”Mercy me!” exclaimed Aunt Abby; ”maybe he won't--but I don't like boys prowling among my things!” and she scurried after him.

She found him in her room, and rather gruffly said, ”What are you up to, boy?”

”Snuff, ma'am,” he replied, with a comical wink, which ought to have shocked the old lady, but which, somehow, had a contrary effect.

”Do you like candy?” she asked--unnecessarily, she knew--and offered him a box from a drawer.

Fibsy felt that a verbal answer was not called for, and, helping himself, proceeded to munch the sweets, contentedly and continuously.