"Thank you, sir."
"I don't want thanks, I want the money or securities
or whatever it is. I've got to go back to my car now,
and you'd better skip home. You needn't tell your
young master that I've been here."
I was trying hard to believe, as I stood there with
clenched hands outside the chapel porch, that Arthur
Pickering's name was written in the list of directors of
one of the greatest trust companies in America, and
that he belonged to the most exclusive clubs in New
York. I had run out for a walk with only an inverness
over my dinner-jacket, and I was thoroughly chilled by
the cold mist. I was experiencing, too, an inner cold as
I reflected upon the greed and perfidy of man.
"Keep an eye on Morgan," said Pickering.
"Certainly, sir."
"And be careful what you write or wire."
"I'll mind those points, sir. But I'd suggest, if you
please, sir-"
"Well?" demanded Pickering impatiently.
"That you should call at the house. It would look
rather strange to the young gentleman if you'd come
here and not see him."
"I haven't the slightest errand with him. And besides,
I haven't time. If he learns that I've been here
you may say that my business was with Sister Theresa
and that I regretted very much not having an opportunity
to call on him."
The irony of this was not lost on Bates, who chuckled
softly. He came out into the open and turned away toward
the Glenarm gate. Pickering passed me, so near
that I might have put out my hand and touched him,
and in a moment I heard the carriage drive off rapidly
toward the village.
I heard Bates running home over the snow and listened
to the clatter of the village hack as it bore Pickering
back to Annandale.
Then out of the depths of the chapel porch-out of
the depths of time and space, it seemed, so dazed I stood
-some one came swiftly toward me, some one, light of
foot like a woman, ran down the walk a little way into
the fog and paused.
An exclamation broke from me.
"Eavesdropping for two!"-it was the voice of Olivia.
"I'd take pretty good care of myself if I were you,
Squire Glenarm. Good night!"
"Good-by!" I faltered, as she sped away into the mist
toward the school.