Part 83 (1/2)
Ruthven raised his brows slightly; and Neergard waited, then repeated his demand.
Ruthven began to explain, rather languidly, that it was impossible; but--”I want it,” insisted the other doggedly.
”I can't be of any service to you in this instance.”
”Oh, yes, I think you can. I tell you I want that card. Do you understand plain speech?”
”Ya-as,” drawled Ruthven, seating himself a trifle wearily among his cus.h.i.+ons, ”but yours is so--ah--very plain--quite elemental, you know.
You ask for a bid to the Orchils'; I tell you quite seriously I can't secure one for you.”
”You'd better think it over,” said Neergard menacingly.
”Awfully sorry.”
”You mean you won't?”
”Ah--quite so.”
Neergard's thin nose grew white and tremulous:
”Why?”
”You insist?” in mildly bored deprecation.
”Yes, I insist. Why can't you--or why won't you?”
”Well, if you really insist, they--ah--don't want you, Neergard.”
”Who--why--how do you happen to know that they don't? Is this some petty spite of that young cub, Gerald? Or”--and he almost looked at Ruthven--”is this some childish whim of yours?”
”Oh, really now--”
”Yes, really now,” sneered Neergard, ”you'd better tell me. And you'd better understand, now, once for all, just exactly what I've outlined for myself--so you can steer clear of the territory I operate in.” He clasped his blunt fingers and leaned forward, projecting his whole body, thick legs curled under; but his close-set eyes still looked past Ruthven.
”I need a little backing,” he said, ”but I can get along without it. And what I'm going to do is to marry Miss Orchil. Now you know; now you understand. I don't care a d.a.m.n about the Erroll boy; and I think I'll discount right now any intentions of any married man to bother Miss Orchil after some Dakota decree frees him from the woman whom he's driven into an asylum.”
Ruthven looked at him curiously:
”So that is discounted, is it?”
”I think so,” nodded Neergard. ”I don't think that man will try to obtain a divorce until I say the word.”
”Oh! Why not?”
”Because of my knowledge concerning that man's crooked methods in obtaining for me certain options that meant ruin to his own country club,” said Neergard coolly.
”I see. How extraordinary! But the club has bought in all that land, hasn't it?”