Diary of a Drug Fiend

Out of Harm’s Way 299 to herself, but to herself as she might have been before I ever knew her. “When those people arrived this afternoon,” she said quite calmly, “‘ I saw at once that they were up to some game. I knew why Gretel wanted to get me out of the room, and I tackled her about it point-blank. She told me the truth, I think, as nearly as a woman of that sort can ever get to it. Something about buying shares in a chemical works ? ”’ “Yes, certainly,” I returned, and I could feel the hostility creeping into my voice. “And why not? It’s a wonderful investment and the chance of my life financially, and I don’t see why women have to poke their noses into men’s business which they don’t under- stand and never will. Between you, you may have made me miss my chance. Confound you! If I knew where to find Platt, I’d go around and sign the contract this moment. As it is, I can go down to the bank and arrange to get the money.” I pulled out my watch. “T can’t even have my lunch, I suppose,” I went on, working myself up deliberately into a fury. Lou walked a few steps away and then turned back and faced me. “ Accept my apologies, Sir Peter,’’ she said, in icy, deliberate tones. ‘ I have no right whatever to interfere with your plans. After all, they don’t concern me any more.” I rose to my feet and flung away the half-smoked cigar into the fireplace. ‘What do you mean by that ?”’ I said passionately. I had something else in mind to say, but all of a sudden my whole being seemed to falter. I sat down weakly in the chair, gasping for breath. Through my half-shut eyes I could see Lou take an impulsive step towards me; and then, controlling herself, she recoiled as a man might who had approached what he thought was a beautifully marked piece of fallen timber and recog- nised it for a rattlesnake.