“Hold him, too,” said Ames quickly. “Looks as if I had made you a sort of holding company, doesn’t it?” he added, with a chuckle. “But we shall have good use for these fellows.”
“He gave me some very interesting news,” she said; and then went on to relate the conversation in detail. Ames laughed loudly as he listened. 98 “And now, Wilton,” said the Beaubien, a determined look coming into her face, “you have always said that you never forgave me for making you let Jim Crowles off, when you had him by the throat. Well, I’m going to give you a chance to get more than even. Jim’s fat widow is after your wife’s scalp. I intend that she shall lose her own in the chase. I’ve got my plans all laid, and I want your wife to meet the lovely Mrs. Hawley-Crowles at the Fitch’s next Thursday afternoon. It will be just a formal call––mutual introductions––and, later, an invitation from Mrs. Ames to Mrs. Hawley-Crowles. Meantime, I want you to get Mrs. Hawley-Crowles involved in a financial way, and shear her of every penny! Do you understand?”
Ames looked at her quizzically. Then he broke into another sharp laugh. “My dear,” said he, taking her hand, “you are charming this evening. Added years only make you more beautiful.”
“Nonsense, Will!” she deprecated, although the smile she gave him attested her pleasure in the compliment. “Well,” she continued briskly, “if I’m so beautiful, you can’t help loving me; and if you love me, you will do what I ask.”
He playfully pinched her cheek. “Why, poor old Jim Crowles! Really, I’ve long since forgotten him. Do you realize that that was more than ten years ago?”
“Please don’t mention years, dear,” she murmured, shuddering a little. “Tell me, what can we do to teach this fat hussy a lesson?”
“Well,” he suggested, laughing, “we might get Ketchim after her, to sell her a wad of his worthless stocks; then when he goes down, as he is going one of these days, we will hope that it will leave her on the rocks of financial ruin, eh?”
“What’s Ketchim promoting?” she asked. “I know nothing about him.”
“Why, among other innocent novelties, a scheme bearing the sonorous title of Simití Development Company, I am told by my brokers.”
“Simití! Why––I’ve heard Carmen mention that name. I wonder––”