"I won't
be a minute," she said. Quietly she closed the door behind her.
Upon her disappearance the manner of the district attorney
underwent an abrupt change. He ran softly to the door opposite the
one through which Mrs. Earle had passed, and pulled it open. But,
if beyond it he expected to find an audience of eavesdroppers, he
was disappointed. The room was empty, and bore no evidence of
recent occupation. . He closed the door, and, from the roller-top
desk, snatching a piece of paper, scribbled upon it hastily.
Wrapping the paper around a coin, and holding it exposed to view,
he showed himself at the window. Below him, to an increasing circle
of hens and pigeons, Nolan was still scattering crumbs. Without
withdrawing his gaze from them, the chauffeur nodded. Wharton
opened his hand and the note fell into the yard. Behind him he
heard the murmur of voices, the sobs of a woman in pain, and the
rattle of a door-knob. As from the window he turned quickly, he saw
that toward the spot where his note had fallen Nolan was tossing
the last remnants of his sandwich.
The girl who entered with Mrs. Earle, leaning on her and supported
by her, was tall and fair. Around her shoulders her blond hair hung
in disorder, and around her waist, under the kimono Mrs. Earle had
thrown about her, were wrapped many layers of bandages. The girl
moved unsteadily and sank into a chair.
Pages:
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39