"She tried to make me believe that she wanted a divorce and would let the suit go undefended."
"Bluff?"
"Yes."
"You saw through it at once?"
"Yes."
"Then what"s made you switch?"
"Why shouldn"t I change my mind?" countered Olive coldly.
Larssen summed her up now with pin-point accuracy. Jealousy had worked this transformation. She wanted her husband because the other woman wanted him. And he, Larssen, was dependent on Olive"s whims! The flotation of his Hudson Bay scheme hinging on her momentary fancies!
The fighting instinct surged up within him. He could look for no help from Olive--it was to be a single-handed battle with Clifford Matheson.
Well, he"d give no quarter to anyone--man or woman!
Aloud he said, with a perfect a.s.sumption of resignation: "What do you wish me to do?"
"I don"t know. I want you to suggest."
"I suppose Sir Francis knows all about everything?"
"No; I"ve told him nothing. He still believes Clifford went to Canada."
"That simplifies matters."
"How?"
"I"ve got the glimmering of a plan. Let me work out details before I put it before you for the O.K.... As I see the problem, it"s this. You want Clifford to cut loose from Miss Verney. You want him to return to you.
You want me to use that signature to my Hudson Bay prospectus to induce him to return."
"Well?"
"You"re making a mistake."
"In what?"
"Never try to force a man"s feelings in such a matter. Get him to persuade himself. Let him return of his own free will or not at all. Now my plan, if it works out right, will do that."
"What _is_ the plan?"
"Give me time to get details settled. Is Clifford in London?"
"I don"t know where he is."
"I suppose I could get his address through Miss Verney?"
"No doubt."
"Where is she in Wiesbaden?"
"With Dr Hegelmann."
"Just one more question: are you a good sailor?"
"Yes; but why? What a curious question!"
Larssen smiled at her rea.s.suringly. "You"ll have to trust me a little.
Naturally I want my Hudson Bay scheme to go through smoothly, and if at the same time I can bring husband and wife together, why, it"ll be the best day"s work done in my life! It"ll make me feel good all over!"
"Thanks; that"s kind of you!" returned Olive, thawed by the cordial ring of his words.
"No need for thanks--wait till I"ve worked the _deus ex machina_ stunt.... What do you think of my boy?"
"A dear little fellow! But he needs care."
"He looks weak now, but that"s the after-effect of the illness. He"ll put on muscle presently. He"ll be a match for any boy of his age in six months" time."
"I hope so."
"Sure. Let"s come and join them at the aviary."
They rose and walked to the house, chatting of impersonal matters, and nothing affecting the Hudson Bay scheme pa.s.sed between Larssen and Olive or Sir Francis until the moment of leaving.
The baronet was at the door of the motor, seeing his guests depart, when Larssen said in a low voice:
"Important matter to see you about. Could you come to the office?"
"When?"
"To-night?"
"To-night I"m due at the banquet to the Australian Team."
"Couldn"t you come on afterwards? I shall be at the office till midnight. It"s about the Hudson Bay deal."
"Very well--I"ll come about eleven."
"Right! I"ll expect you."
As they drove home in the car, Larssen said to his boy:
"Tell me your impressions."
"I think the garden is fine, and the birds are bully little fellows."