"I will not believe—I will not!" she said to herself. "I do not understand; but it is all right—I'm sure it is. I'll stand by Eva—she shall not be talked about—shall not do foolish things. Oh, this contest! And poor Judge Latimer!" Her thoughts raced on. "How much worse if someone else had heard that signal! But it meant nothing—of course, it meant nothing!"
She smiled, with a conscious effort, when Mrs. Latimer returned, with apologies for delay; and resolved again not to abandon Eva to the innuendos that were already circulating.
"Shall we go down to dinner together, Eva?" she asked, gently. "I'm alone to-night; Charlie is dining at the club."
"Thank you, dear. I believe I'll have my dinner sent up. Thank you so much!"
After her lonely meal Winifred remembered her unfinished book, and thought to get it as she stepped from the elevator. She knocked lightly at Mrs. Latimer's door. She heard a faint rustle inside, then all was still. Again she gave a soft, playful battering of open palms on the panels; then she fled to her own apartments, and flung herself face downward on the pillowed couch, weeping as though her heart would break.
On the other side of the closed door stood Eva Latimer, lips parted, hands clasped on her breast in terror.
The Honorable William Moore came from between the portieres over the door which he had used for entrance from Burroughs' apartments into the Latimer suite.