Marian held out her hand; it remained but a second in his strong clasp, then was withdrawn. “I shall always be happy to see you and Mr. Palmer,” she announced, and the inclusion of Palmer’s name robbed the message of any special cordiality to Maynard alone.
Palmer’s reply was mingled with his good-byes to Evelyn; he was determined to have the last word with her, but La Montagne out-maneuvered him and, just as the other men stepped into the corridor, he whisked back into the apartment, to return a second later to the corridor smiling happily.
“Pardon!” he exclaimed blandly. “Shall we take the elevator or walk?”
“Walk,” jerked out Palmer, his temper getting the upper hand, and La Montagne’s eyebrows rose as he glanced significantly at Maynard. He said nothing more, however, and accompanied his companions in silence to the next floor where Palmer halted.
“Will you please explain,” he began, “why you stopped at the door of my apartment earlier this evening?”
“To inquire the direction of Madame Van Ness’ apartment.” La Montagne glanced at him in mild surprise. “I told you so when you questioned me before.”
“So you did; but you did not tell me why you walked into my apartment and out on the balcony,” retorted Palmer.
“But I did no such action,” La Montagne looked in bewilderment at Maynard standing silently by them.
“Tell us, La Montagne,” began Maynard hurriedly, and thereby checking Palmer’s next question, “did you find the front door of the apartment ajar?”
“Do you mean opened?” Maynard nodded. “But yes, and hearing voices inside I thought to inquire my way.”