“I must,” returned Peabody. “I can do nothing for the man, and you know how Tammany will use this. They’ll have it on the street by ten. They’ll say I was driving recklessly; without regard for human life. And, besides, they’re waiting for me at head-quarters. Please hurry. I am late now.”
Miss Forbes gave an exclamation of surprise.
“Why, I’m not going,” she said.
“You must go! I must go. You can’t remain here alone.”
Peabody spoke in the quick, assured tone that at the first had convinced Miss Forbes his was a most masterful manner.
“Winthrop, too,” he added, “wants you to go away.”
Miss Forbes made no reply. But she looked at Peabody inquiringly, steadily, as though she were puzzled as to his identity, as though he had just been introduced to her. It made him uncomfortable.
“Are you coming?” he asked.
Her answer was a question.
“Are you going?”