“Beg pardon, sir,” Lambert’s discreet voice from the doorway interrupted them. “James has just sent up word, sir, that the car is here, sir.”
“All right, Lambert; get Mr. Tillinghast’s coat and hat, and mine. I’ll take you wherever you wish to go, Dick, but first come with me to Galt’s. I have to buy a wedding present for May Seymour. Please come and help me select it.”
Dick consulted his watch. “If you won’t be very long, I’ll come. I have an appointment with General Long at four o’clock.”
Lambert helped them into their overcoats, and a few minutes later they were whirled away in the big Pierce Arrow car which was Tom’s latest addition to his overstocked garage.
“I had a great mind to turn detective and use the knowledge of Beatrice’s secret marriage to find the murderer of her stepmother,” said Tom, as the big car slowed up at a street crossing. “You remember, Dick, that Peggy Macallister challenged us all. But don’t worry, old man,” seeing the telltale color rise in Dick’s face. “I know when I am out of the running. But what struck me as being extremely ludicrous was her including Count de Morny in the wager. I was the only one to appreciate the humor of it.”
“I fail to see any particular humor in the situation,” retorted Dick, warmly. “De Morny has as great a right to win Peggy as any man; far more than I, in fact.” And he sighed as he bitterly thought of his small bank account.
“Tut! I wasn’t thinking of your rivalry, but of de Morny’s putting himself out to revenge Mrs. Trevor’s death. Why, man alive, they hated each other like poison.”
Dick looked curiously at Tom. “What makes you think so?”
“I don’t think—I know. De Morny told me so himself. He said she affected him as a cat does some people; simply couldn’t stand being in the same room with her, and yet they were constantly thrown together at bridge parties. I thought it simply one of his over-charged Latin speeches; but one day at the Macallisters I inadvertently overheard them talking. They were in a bay window concealed by the curtain, and I stood with my back to them waiting for the crowd to thin so I could go and speak to Mrs. Macallister.”
“And what did you overhear?” asked Dick, with growing interest.