“Mrs. Tuis was not able,” I said, diplomatically, and we moved towards the launch.
24. He did not offer to help me into the vessel, but I, crude Western woman, did not miss the attention. We seated ourselves in the upholstered leather seats in the stern, and when the “luggage” had been stowed aboard, the little vessel swung away from the pier. Then I said: “If you will pardon me, Mr. van Tuiver, I should like to talk with you privately.”
He looked at me for a moment, and then answered, abruptly: “Yes, madam.” The secretary rose and went forward.
The whirr of the machinery and the strong breeze made by the boat’s motion, made it certain that no one could hear us, and so I began my attack: “Mr. van Tuiver, I am a friend of your wife’s. I came here to help her in this crisis, and I came to-day to meet you because it was necessary for someone to talk to you frankly about the situation. You will understand, I presume, that Mrs. Tuis is not—not very well informed about the matters in question.”
His gaze was fixed intently upon me, but he said not a word. After waiting, I continued: “Perhaps you will wonder why your wife’s physicians could not have handled the matter. The reason is, there is a woman’s side to such questions and often it is difficult for men to understand it. If Sylvia knew the truth, she could speak for herself; so long as she does not know it, I shall have to take the liberty of speaking for her.”
Again there was a pause. He did nothing more than watch me, yet I could feel his affronted maleness rising up for battle. I waited on purpose to compel him to speak.
“May I ask,” he inquired, at last, “what you mean by the ‘truth’ that you refer to?”
“I mean,” I said, “the cause of the infant’s affliction.”
His composure was a thing to wonder at. He did not show by the flicker of an eyelash any sign of uneasiness.
“Let me explain one thing,” I continued. “I owe it to Dr. Perrin to make clear that he had nothing whatever to do with my coming into possession of the secret. In fact, as he will no doubt tell you, I knew it before he did; it is possible that you owe it to me that the infant is not disfigured as well as blind.”