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.