"Is that you, Caroline?" asked my wife, with my voice, which I was foolishly glad to hear again. "I've got good news for you. I'm twenty thousand ahead on the day--and every transaction is cleaned out."
"Great Scott!" I exclaimed, forgetting my suspicions and rage in the amazement that her words had caused.
"I'll stop at the club on the way up," went on Caroline, in a deep basso that vibrated with a note of intense self-satisfaction. "Have you had a pleasant day? How's Mrs. Taunton? By the way, my dear, Edgerton was here a few moments ago. Mrs. Edgerton has a treat in store for us to-night."
A chill of apprehension swept over me.
"What do you mean--ah--Reginald?" I faltered.
"She went to the lecture this morning, Caroline," explained my wife, glibly. "She is awfully clever, don't you think? She made him promise to look in on us at nine to-night."
"Him? Who's him?" I cried, cold with dread.
"Yamama," answered my voice, exultantly.
"Good God, Caroline!" I yelled through the 'phone, but my wife had cut me off.
Stumbling into a chair, I rested Caroline's aching head upon her moist, trembling hand.