“But I don’t `let’ him, Laura,” he protested.
“No, he just does it!”
“Well,” he smiled, “you must admit my efforts to supplant him haven’t——”
“It won’t take any effort now,” she said, rising quickly. Valentine Corliss came into their view upon the sidewalk in front, taking his departure. Seeing that they observed him, he lifted his hat to Laura and nodded a cordial good-day to Lindley. Then he went on.
Just before he reached the corner of the lot, he encountered upon the pavement a citizen of elderly and plain appearance, strolling with a grandchild. The two men met and passed, each upon his opposite way, without pausing and without salutation, and neither Richard nor Laura, whose eyes were upon the meeting, perceived that they had taken cognizance of each other. But one had asked a question and the other had answered.
Mr. Pryor spoke in a low monotone, with a rapidity as singular as the restrained but perceptible emphasis he put upon one word of his question.
“I got you in the park,” he said; and it is to be deduced that “got” was argot. “You’re not doing anything here, are you?”
“No!” answered Corliss with condensed venom, his back already to the other. He fanned himself with his hat as he went on. Mr. Pryor strolled up the street with imperturbable benevolence.
“Your coast is cleared,” said Laura, “since you wouldn’t clear it yourself.”
“Wish me luck,” said Richard as he left her.