The tension of Ann’s nerves relaxed, giving place to a spiritless acceptance of the inevitable. There was no message from Brett, after all! It was only Cara—Cara who had come to ask the success or failure of her last night’s interview with him. The irony of it!
Ann began to speak at once, anticipating the first question which she knew the other would be sure to put. It would be better to get it over at once.
“I didn’t go to the yacht,” she said baldly. “Brett wired me not to come.”
Cara nodded.
“I know. But I went,” she answered quietly.
“You?” Ann stared at her. “You went—to the yacht!” she repeated in tones of stupefaction.
“Yes. And I got what I wanted. These are the bills which Tony gave to Brett—and there’s a note for you, as well,” she added with a fugitive smile.
She slid the whole packet on to the table, and Ann picked up one of the stamped oblong slips of paper and examined it with a curious sense of detachment.
“‘Bill or note.’” She read aloud the words which crowned and footed the Government stamp. Then she laid the bill back on the top of the others.
“But I don’t understand,” she said. “How did—you—get these!”