“We’re in a terrible difficulty, Madame,” said Pamela, “and we want your advice and help.”
“Yes,” said Babs, “we want you, please, to speak for us to papa!”
Audrey shuddered as the innocent girls poured these words into her ears.
They wanted her to “speak for them to papa!” To the very man, who, unless Geoffrey had made the most grievous of mistakes, had tried, not two hours ago, to murder her husband! And who was, in all probability, at that very moment lying unconscious from the effects of a blow administered by the avenging arm of Gerard’s cousin!
“Come in here,” said Audrey, mechanically, in a low voice, as she led the girls into the deserted showroom.
CHAPTER XXIV
“You know, Madame, we consider that you’ve treated us very badly,” began Pamela, as soon as they were inside the room.
“Have I, dear? How?” asked Audrey, trying to smile, and meanwhile wondering who were in the rooms at the back, the shut-up rooms which Mademoiselle Laure kept to herself. Was Mr. Candover there? And Laure? And was it safe to converse within these walls at all?
She looked into the inner showroom, and, finding nobody there, drew open the curtains, and placed herself in such a position that she could see, by the big mirrors against the wall, any one who might enter from the back part of the premises. Then she beckoned the girls to come close to her, and sitting down on a big Chesterfield settee, she placed herself between them and took a hand of each.
“On second thoughts,” said Pamela, “I think I won’t scold you after all, as I meant to do, because you look worried. Aren’t you happy, dear? What’s the matter? Is it anything you can tell us?”