"I must have an interview with my father before I go. I must!" said Helen. Then she added in a voice that sounded strangely harsh, "He has avoided me ever since the ceremony!"
Beverly Cruger had noticed that Hélène was nervous and emotional, and he attributed it to the excitement of the moment. But the deep-drawn lines of her mouth and the stern look in her eye indicated anger and deep-seated determination, rather than mere excitement.
"What is it, darling?" he asked tenderly. "Can't you trust me?"
"My father has purposely avoided me," she replied. "He knows it is necessary that I should see him," and Hélène then told her husband of her recognition of Von Barwig in church. "I have mourned for him as one dead and gone, and when I saw him to-day rising up like a spectre, as if reproaching me for my neglect, I was terribly overcome. Oh, Beverly, I can't explain, I don't understand why, but I think of him constantly, and my heart goes out to him! Even at this moment I am haunted by the thought of his dear, sweet, gentle smile. Why did my father tell me he was dead? There is some mystery connected with Herr Von Barwig that I am determined to find out! You'll help me, won't you? I mean, you'll be patient with my—my unaccountable anxiety?" Beverly nodded.
"Of course I will," he said. "Aren't you my wife?"
"Somehow or other," Hélène went on, almost unconscious of Beverly's presence, "I feel sure that he is in some way connected with my mother. I know you'll think I'm foolish, but whenever I look at her portrait I think of him. Why should I think of him, unless—" Hélène paused. "I shall never forget that day, the day I dismissed him. He stood at the door gazing at her portrait, the tears running down his cheeks, and oh, such a sad, sad, longing expression on his face! Why should the sight of my mother's portrait make him cry? What is he to her, Beverly?"
Beverly shook his head. "I wish to God I hadn't sent him away," moaned Hélène. "What is this man to me that even the memory of his face makes me suffer! To-day of all days I should be happy, but I'm miserable, miserable, miserable!"
"If Mr. Stanton knows, he must tell us," declared Beverly emphatically.
"Yes, he shall tell us!" echoed Hélène. "Let's go to him and demand the truth."
"You stay here, Hélène! I'll bring him to you."