He wanted to
marry me then. He told me he was not a married man."
As her story unfolded, Wharton did not again interrupt; and
speaking quickly, in abrupt, broken phrases, the girl brought her
narrative to the moment when, as she claimed, Cutler had attempted
to kill her. At this point a knock at the locked door caused both
the girl and her audience to start. Wharton looked at Mrs. Earle
inquiringly, but she shook her head, and with a look at him also of
inquiry, and of suspicion as well, opened the door.
With apologies her head waiter presented a letter.
"For Mr. Wharton," he explained, "from his chauffeur."
Wharton's annoyance at the interruption was most apparent. "What
the devil----" he began.
He read the note rapidly, and with a frown of irritation raised his
eyes to Mrs. Earle.
"He wants to go to New Rochelle for an inner tube," he said. "How
long would it take him to get there and back?"
The hard and distrustful expression upon the face of Mrs. Earle,
which was habitual, was now most strongly in evidence. Her eyes
searched those of Wharton.
"Twenty minutes, she said.
"He can't go," snapped Wharton.
"Tell him," he directed the waiter, to stay where he is. Tell him
I may want to go back to the office any minute." He turned eagerly
to the girl. "I'm sorry," he said. With impatience he crumpled the
note into a ball and glanced about him.
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