“But mother, you’re crying,” he protested.
“Tears of joy, dear—because—I am your mother!”
“I’ve never done a thing in my life to make you proud of me, mother, and now I’ve brought this new disgrace upon you. It seems almost too bad that Druid didn’t get me first.”
“Hush, dear!” Marjorie shivered. “You are all that I have, now, and we will face this thing bravely—together.”
There was little sleep for any members of the Benton family that night, or rather morning, as it was close to five o’clock before they retired. When Mr. Hammond called at ten o’clock, he found Hugh waiting in the library for him.
“Good morning, Benton,” he began in his abrupt manner. “Hope you managed to get some rest? I’ve been busy since before eight, and I’m afraid things are not going to be quite as simple as they seemed a few hours ago.”
“Why—what do you mean?” Hugh asked anxiously.
“Well it seems that Howard did a lot of talking at the club before he went to Druid’s apartment. He spoke to two of the members, and the entire conversation was overheard by the coat-boy.”
“What could he have said?”
“Oh, many things—all leading up to the statement ‘that he intended to get Druid and settle with him for ruining his sister’s reputation.’ Mind—I don’t say this will make any difference in the outcome of it all—it will just complicate matters. If it hadn’t been for the influence we brought forward last night, I don’t believe we should have been able to bail him out until after the coroner’s inquest.”