“I choose no pay,” he interrupted.
“Then, the reward will be in kind,” she answered enigmatically. “I want you——” She put one slender foot on the fender, and gazed at it, meditatively, while the firelight stole covert glances at the silken ankles thus exposed. “I want you to purchase for me, from Geoffrey Croyden, at par, his Virginia Development Company bonds,” she said. “You can do it through your broker. I will give you a check, now——”
“Wait!” he said; “wait until he sells——”
“You think he won’t sell?” she inquired.
“I think he will have to be satisfied, first, as to the purchaser—in plain words, that it isn’t either you or I. We can’t give Geoffrey money! The bonds are practically worthless, as he knows only too well.”
“I had thought of that,” she said, “but, isn’t it met by this very plan? Your broker purchases the bonds for your account, but he, naturally, declines to reveal the identity of his customer. You can, truthfully, tell Geoffrey that you are not buying them—for you’re not. And I—if he will only give me the chance—will assure him that I am not buying them from him—and you might confirm it, if he asked.” 180
“Hum! It’s juggling with the facts—though true on the face,” said Macloud, “but it’s pretty thin ice we’re skating on.”
“You are assuming he suspects or questions. He may take the two hundred thousand and ask no question.”
“You don’t for a moment believe that!” he laughed.
“It is doubtful,” she admitted.