After they had taken out two of the parcels and placed them at the back of the motor, Anna suddenly bethought herself of what Alfred Head had said to her. “Give me, please,” she said, “the money which to me since January 1st owing has been. Fifty shillings—two pound ten it is.”
“I know nothing of that,” said the man curtly. “I have had no instructions to pay you any money, Mrs. Bauer.”
Anna felt a rush of anger come over her. She was not afraid of this weasel-faced little man. “Then the other two parcels take away you will not,” she exclaimed. “To that money a right I have!”
They were facing each other in the low-ceilinged, dim, badly-lit bedroom. The stranger grew very red.
“Look here!” he said conciliatingly; he was really in a great hurry to get away. “I promise to send you this money to-night, Mrs. Bauer. You can trust me. I have not got it on me, truly. You may search me if you like.” He smiled a little nervously, and advancing towards her opened his big motor coat.
Anna shrank back. “You truly send it will?” she asked doubtfully.
“I will send it to Hegner for you. Nay, more—— I will give you a piece of paper, and then Hegner will pay you at once.” He tore a page out of his pocket-book, and scribbled on it a few words.
She took the bit of paper, folded it, and put it in her purse.
As they were conveying the third oddly-shaped parcel through the kitchen, she said conciliatingly, “Curious it is to have charge of luggage so long and not exactly what it is to know!”
He made no answer to this remark. But suddenly, in a startled, suppressed whisper, he exclaimed, “Who’s that?”