He fell back in the chair, exhausted by his indignation. Judithe took the fan from Pluto’s hand and waved it gently above the dark, vindictive face. His eyes were closed and as she surveyed the cynical countenance a sudden determination came to her. If she should leave for Savannah in the morning, why not let Matthew Loring hear, first, of the plans for Loringwood’s future? She knew how to hurt Kenneth McVeigh; she meant to see if there was any way of hurting this trafficker in humanity, this aristocratic panderer to horrid vices.
“You may go, Pluto,” she said, kindly. “I will ring if you are needed.”
Both the colored men went out, closing the door after them, and she brought a hassock and placed it beside his chair, and seated herself, after taking a book from the shelf and opening it without glancing at the title or pages.
“Since you refuse to be entertainer, Monsieur Loring, you must submit to being entertained,” she said, pleasantly; “shall I sing to you, read to you, or tell you a story?”
Her direct and persistent graciousness made him straighten up in his chair and regard her, inquiringly; there was a curious mocking tone in her voice as she spoke, but the voice itself was forgotten as he looked in her face.
The light from the lamp was shining full on her face, and the face was closer to him than it had ever been before. If she designed to dazzle him by thus arranging a living picture for his benefit she certainly succeeded. He had never really seen her until now, and he caught his breath sharply and was conscious that one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life was looking at him with a strange smile touching her perfect mouth, and a strange haunting resemblance to some one once known, shining in her dark eyes.
“What sort of stories do you prefer––love stories?” she continued, as he did not speak––only stared at her; “or, since we have had a real adventure in the house last night, possibly you would be interested in the intrigue back of that––would you?”
“Do you mean,” he asked, eagerly, “that you could give me some new facts concerning the spy––Monroe?”
“Yes, I really think I could,” she said, amiably, “as there happen to be several things you have not been well informed upon.”