"And suppose I did not?"
"I am really sorry to have disturbed you, Mr. Crandall—I beg pardon, Kenyon; but Ithought you might like to hear directly from your wife."
"For Heaven's sake, hush!" exclaimed Kenyon, looking round him nervously.
He rose, and, walking to the door, shut it, first peering into the hall to see if anyone were listening.
Dr. Fox laughed again.
"It's well to be cautious," he said. "I quite approve of it—under the circumstances, Mr. Kenyon," he proceeded, leering at him with unpleasant familiarity. "You're a deep one! I give you credit for being deeper than I supposed. You've played your cards well, that's a fact."
Mr. Kenyon bit his finger-nails to the quick in his alarm and irritation. He would like to have choked the man who sat before him, if he had dared, and possessed the requisite strength.
"You only made one mistake, my dear sir. You shouldn't have tried to deceive me. You should have taken me into your confidence. You might have known I would find out your little game."
"Dr. Fox," said Mr. Kenyon, frowning, "your tone is very offensive. You will bear in mind that you are addressing a gentleman."
"Ho! ho!" laughed the visitor. "I really beg pardon," he said, marking the dark look on the face of the other. "No offence is intended. In fact, I was rather expressing my admiration for your sharpness. It was an admirable plan, that of yours."