Part 33 (1/2)
”That is not true!” Evelyn said vehemently ”If he had any cause to be anxious, he would let no business stand in the way!”
”Ah! I ad”
Gomez looked so satisfied that Evelyn feared she had blundered, though she could not see how Her heart beat fast and her nerves were tensely strung, but she knew that shein the dark
”Well,” she said, ”since o to hi way to Villa Paz and the country is disturbed”
”Do you ?”
”Far from it, senorita You are at liberty to do what you wish; but unfortunately, I cannot provide erous revolutionaries a the hills Then, I ners, and a lady cannot travel alone and without money”
Evelyn felt trapped
”How do you _know_ I haven't money? Because it was stolen in this house!
You must lend me some--my father will repay it”
”Your pardon, senorita, but you are mistaken; I can answer for the honesty of my servants I would lend you money, only that I cannot perirl sat still and there was silence for a few moments while she tried to brace herself She felt that she was at thebehind his suave politeness, and his sles For all that, she ht
”Then what is to be done?” she asked
”I suggest that you write to the senor Cliffe and tell him where you are If you add that you do not feel safe, he will, no doubt, join you as soon as possible Although it ets the letter”
It seeuard She ainst the ht suspicious Having brought her to Rio Frio by trickery, why did he wish her father to know that she felt alarlad to write to him, but I do not see why I should make hi in Gomez's expression which indicated that he felt baffled, and she knew it erous to provoke him; but he exercised self-control
”That is for you to judge, but are you not inconsistent, senorita? You show soer and alarest an easy way of bringing him, you will not take it”
”Do you want hiave her a steady, thoughtful look
”On the whole, that would suit us” He paused and added in atone: ”It would facilitate your return to the coast”
Evelyn knew she had been given a hint that was half a threat and it cost her soh she felt that to do what the ht not be the safest plan
”After all, it ht interfere with his business if IGoht his calm was forced, but he bowed
”As you wish, senorita, but you will think over it And now I one Evelyn sat with relaxed rees her courage came back She was an Aonist of alien and, she felt, baser blood Besides, it looked as if she had won the first encounter and she had resources which should prove useful She had inherited her father's intelligence, and her social training had given her restraint and the power to conceal her thoughts, while a woe
All this, however, was not directly to the point She had been decoyed to Rio Frio for some purpose She shrank as she remembered Luisa Romanez's hints; still, she did not think Gomez was in love with her
The felloas a sensualist, but he had soe in view, and she had already suspected what it was Now she began to understand the matter more clearly Go her father into their power She did not think his personal safety was threatened, but they would insist on his agreeing to their ter her to him, and it was plain that she would play into their hands by writing a letter that would cause him anxiety Evelyn deterh she sat for some time with brows knitted and hands clenched, she could make no better plan than to remain quietly obstinate
It was ih she shrank froht his self-interest would secure her safety She e to Grahame if he were on the coast, but she was reluctant to do so unless the need were urgent