Part 37 (2/2)
”I don't think Mr. Waddington knows that your solicitors advanced the money. There is no reference to them in the correspondence.”
”I think, if you'll look through your _files_, or if Mr. Waddington will look through his, you'll find you are mistaken.”
”I can tell Mr. Waddington what you've told me and let you know what he says. If you don't mind waiting a minute I can let you know now.”
She sought out Mr. Waddington in his office--luckily it was situated in the kitchen wing, the one farthest from the library. She found him alone in it (the agent had gone), sitting in a hard Windsor chair. He knew that Elise couldn't pursue him into his office; it was even doubtful whether she knew where it was. He had retreated into it as into some impregnable position.
Not that he looked safe. His face sagged more than ever, as though the Postlethwaite nose had withdrawn its support from that pale flesh of funk. If it had any clear meaning at all it expressed a terrified expectation of blackmail. His very moustache and hair drooped lamentably.
”Are you disengaged?” she said.
”Yes. But for G.o.d's sake don't tell her that.”
”It's all right. She knows she isn't going to see you.”
”Well?”
She felt the queer, pathetic clinging of his mind to her as if it realized that she held his honour and f.a.n.n.y's happiness in her hands.
”She's not going to give up that five hundred without a struggle.”
”The deuce she isn't. On what grounds does she claim it?”
”She says you advised her to make a certain investment, and that you promised to lend her half the sum she wanted.”
”I made no promise. I said, 'Perhaps that sum might be forthcoming.' I made it very clear that it would depend on circ.u.mstances.”
”On circ.u.mstances that she understood--knew about?”
”Er--on circ.u.mstances that--No. She didn't know about them.”
”Still, you made conditions?”
”No. I made--a mental reservation.”
”She seems to be aware of the circ.u.mstances that influenced you. She thinks you've gone back on your word.”
”I have gone back on nothing. My word's sacred. The woman lies.”
”She sticks to it that the promise was made, that on the strength of it she invested a certain sum of money through her solicitors, that they advanced the money on that security and you advised the investment.”
”I did not advise it. I advised her to give it up. I wrote to her. You took down the letter.... No, you didn't. I copied that one myself.”
”Have you got it? I'd better show it her.”
”Yes. It's--it's--confound it, it's in my private drawer.”
”Can't I find it?”
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