“It must be sent outside without further delay,” said Gault coolly.
“Am I not to be consulted?” asked Loseis, running up her eye-brows.
“It did not seem worth while to do so,” said Gault. “You have set yourself in opposition to me at every point. Just the same I have a responsibility towards you that I am obliged to fulfill.”
“I am the mistress here,” said Loseis in a rage.
“You are not of age,” said Gault coolly.
“Well, you are not my guardian!”
“No. But whoever may take your affairs in charge, will look to me as the only man on the spot, for an accounting. If the fur is not sent out at once you would lose the market for an entire season.”
Loseis turned away biting her lip. Whenever he began to talk in this vein with glib use of legal and business terms, she was helpless. Her instinct told her that he was merely cloaking his evil intentions in smooth words, but she had not experience enough to be able to strike through to the truth.
“Besides,” Gault went on, “if we do not get the fur to the Crossing, Gruber will get tired of waiting for it.”
Loseis caught at this. “So,” she said, “you are sending it to Gruber, then?”