“He told you a lot of lies about me, didn’t he?” he went on, not hiding the sneer. “And you believed them.”
“He didn’t say much, but what he did say was to the point. I don’t recall that there were any lies.”
“There were, of course. It would be just his chance to give you his made-up story about me and that Johnson girl. That was what so interested you.”
“No, he didn’t say anything about you and any girl except me. Then he only said he was sorry he couldn’t have the pleasure of my friendship–––”
“Ay-ee,” the other grated. His lips worked above his teeth.
A shudder passed over Janet Hosmer’s skin at the sound and the sight, for she had never seen him like this. A cold hand might have been closing about her heart: his glare was animal-like and bestial. His nature at the instant stood unclothed.
“And he said he would be at pains to avoid even chance meetings with me, because it would make talk and cause me annoyance.”
“He’ll not meet you another time if I have anything to say about it.”
“I see. But I wanted you to understand that he told me no lies, nor repeated any story––about you and a Johnson girl, I think you said.”