CHAPTER XVIII
Shotwell Junior discovered in due course of time the memoranda of the repeated messages which Palla had telephoned to his several clubs, asking him to call her up immediately.
It was rather late to do that now, but his pulses began to quicken again in the old, hopeless way; and he went to the telephone booth and called the number which seemed burnt into his brain forever.
A maid answered; Palla came presently; and he thought her voice seemed colourless and unfamiliar.
“Yes, I’m perfectly well,” she replied to his inquiry; “where in the world did you go that night? I simply couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“What had you wished to say to me?”
“Nothing––except––that I was afraid you were angry when you left, and I didn’t wish you to part with me on such terms. Were you annoyed?”
“No.”
“You say it very curtly, Jim.”