And Justine Duprez, too, had been snapped away out of his sight by the unannounced departure of her mistress. He was helpless now to continue any effective espionage.
Even Helms, the janitor, mournfully shook his head. “The wires are all silent,” he grumbled. “The mail, too, all now goes direct to Lakemere, and so I’ve nothing to tell you.” But he wanted a handsome “temporary loan” just as usual.
A lurid ray of warning light soon gleamed upon Vreeland’s path in a letter brought by Dr. Alberg from the beleaguered Frenchwoman. It was only a scrawl, but a scrawl of unmistakably grave import.
“There is danger hovering near, mon amant,” she warned. “The old judge, the newspaper man, and his ugly, raw-boned sister have all been here, with the Kelly, little green-eyed Irish devil, and the other girl, the pretty one, who was her assistant with you.
“Dieu! how handsome that woman is. But they are all gone away now save the old judge, who comes every day, going back at night, and the Kelly woman, who goes home Saturday night. The other girl went away at night with the two Conyers. Watch the Kelly. She may come down to your office to spy. I fear that Madame has already missed the paper. Remember, we must stand and fall together, you and I. If I ever find that dark-eyed beauty near you, some dark night, look out for a dash of vitriol in her pretty face. That’s all. You would not dare to punish me! I will have no rivals! You belong to me now!” Vreeland groaned in his helpless rage.
Harold Vreeland’s heart beat wildly as Senator Garston, after locking the door, drew two chairs into the middle of the room. He studied the young man’s face and said slowly:
“Vreeland, I am now in a position to make a fortune for you. I can easily see that you depend on Mrs. Willoughby in some way. I want you to take a few moments to consider whether you will not put yourself unreservedly into my hands, and so, in helping me, help yourself. You know what the favor of rich women finally amounts to. The day that the wind blows cold you are left out in the street. But I can put you ‘on velvet.’ Now, don’t speak too quickly. It is a very serious matter. You and I can work like men together, with no change of heart.”
“What do you wish of me?” guardedly demanded Vreeland. “It must be nothing inimical to Mrs. Willoughby’s stock interests. I am no babbler, and no traitor.”
“Your character is perfectly safe in my hands,” half sneered Garston. “I merely want you to help me, and make your own future, while not injuring your lovely employer.
“I know already, through Alynton, that you’re only a figurehead in the firm, and, by the way, he is pushing that nephew of his right in as fast as he can, between you and Mrs. Willoughby. He does not like you. A touch of jealousy.” The chance shot told, and it cut Vreeland to the quick. Garston smiled sardonically.