He read these words:
“Mr. Appleton is very ill. His life depends upon his will-power. He tells me that you alone can say the word that will save him. Henry Haslam, M.D.”
Haslam smiled.
“A clever invention to make you think he tried to execute his threat. Now you know what he was doing while you were taking your handbag home. He probably concocted the scheme on his journey. But why did he sign my name, I wonder?”
She dropped her eyes and answered in a low tone:
“Because he knew that I would believe anything said by you.”
“Would you believe that I love you still more than I did three years ago?”
“Yes; if it came from your own lips—not by telegraph.”
She lifted her eyes now, and her lips, too; Mary the housemaid sensibly looked another way.