He did not answer.
"Will you tell me one thing--just one?" she persisted. "Has Royster & Axtell"s failure anything to do with it?"
"Yes--it has!" he said, after a moment"s hesitation.
"And is it true that you are seriously embarra.s.sed--have lost most of your fortune?"
"It was to be just one question!" he smiled.
"I"m a woman," she explained.
They danced half the length of the room before he replied. He would tell her. She, alone, deserved to know--and, if she cared, would understand.
"I have lost most of my fortune!" he admitted. "I am not, however, in the least embarra.s.sed--I have no debts."
"And is it "business," which keeps you?--will you ever come back to Northumberland?"
"Yes, it is business that keeps me--important business. Whether or not I shall return to Northumberland, depends on the outcome of that business."
"Why did you leave without a word of farewell to your friends?" she persisted.
"Was that unusual?" said Croyden. "Has any of my friends cared--sincerely cared? Has any one so much as inquired for me?"
She looked away.
"They thought you were called to Europe, suddenly," she replied.
"For which thinking you were responsible, Elaine."
"Why I?" she demanded.
"You were the only one I told."
Her eyes sought his, then fell.
"It was because of the failure," she said. "You were the largest creditor--you disappeared--there were queries and rumors--and I thought it best to tell. I hope I did no harm."
"On the contrary," he said, "I am very, very grateful to know that some one thought of me."
The music stopped. It was just in time. Another moment, and he might have said what he knew was folly. Her body close to his, his arm around her, the splendor of her bared shoulders, the perfume of her hair, the glory of her face, were overcoming him, were intoxicating his senses, were drugging him into non-resistance. The spell was broken not an instant too soon. He shook himself--like a man rousing from dead sleep--and took her back to their party.
The next instant, as she was whirled away by another, she shot him an alluringly fascinating smile, of intimate camaraderie, of understanding, which well-nigh put him to sleep again.
"I would that I might get such a smile," sighed Macloud.
"You go to the devil!" said Croyden. "She has the same smile for all her friends, so don"t be silly."
"And don"t be blind!" Macloud laughed.
"Moreover, if it"s a different smile, the field is open. I"m scratched, you know."
"Can a man be scratched _after_ he has won?" asked Macloud.
"More silliness!" Croyden retorted, as he turned away to search for his partner.
When the Hop was over, they said good-night at the foot of the stairs, in the Exchange.
"We shall see you in the morning, of course--we leave about ten o"clock," said Miss Cavendish.
"We shall be gone long before you are awake," answered Croyden. And, when she looked at him inquiringly, he added: "It"s an appointment that may not be broken."
"Well, till Northumberland, then!" Miss Brundage remarked.
But Elaine Cavendish"s only reply was a meaning nod and another fascinating smile. She wished him success.
As they entered their own rooms, a little later, Macloud, in the lead, switched on the lights--and stopped!
"h.e.l.lo!--our wallets, by all that"s good!" he exclaimed.
"Hurrah!" cried Croyden, springing in, and stumbling over Macloud in his eagerness.
He seized his wallet!--A touch, and the story was told. No need to investigate--it was as empty as the day it came from the shop, save for a few visiting cards, and some trifling memoranda. The letter and the money were gone.
"d.a.m.n!" said Croyden.
Macloud laughed.
"You didn"t fancy you would find it?" he said.
"No, I didn"t, but d.a.m.n! anyway--who wouldn"t?"
"Oh, you"re strictly orthodox!" Macloud laughed. "But the pity is that won"t help us. They"ve got old Parmenter"s letter--and our ready cash as well; but the cash does not count."
"It counts with me," said Croyden. "I"m out something over a hundred--and that"s considerable to me now. Anything to show where they were recovered?"
Macloud was nearest the telephone. He took down the receiver. After a time he was answered.
"What do you know about our wallets?" he asked.... "Thank you!--The office says, they were found by one of the bell-boys in a garbage can on King George Street."
"Very good," said Croyden. "If they mean fight, I reckon we can accommodate them. Greenberry Point early in the morning."
IX
THE WAY OUT