“Yes, yes,” she said.
“And under no circumstances,” he commanded, “must you mention my name.”
“But,” she argued, “suppose—”
“There’s no ‘buts’ and no ‘supposes’ in it,” he said sharply. “It’s most important to the United States Government and to me, that my identity is in no way disclosed.”
“It may be necessary,” she persisted.
“It cannot be necessary,” he said with an air of finality. “If it comes to a show-down and you tell Denby I’m after him, I’ll not only swear I never saw you, but I’ll put your sister in prison. Now, good night, Miss Cartwright, and remember you’ve got something at stake, too, so don’t forget—Denby to-night.”
He went silently through the French windows and disappeared, leaving her to face for the second time in a day an outlook that seemed hopeless.
But she was not the only one in the great Harrington mansion to feel that little zest was left in life. Monty was obsessed with the idea that his friend’s long delay was due to his having been held up. The automobile lends itself admirably to highway robbery, and it would be easy enough for armed robbers to overpower Denby and the chauffeur.
Directly he heard Denby’s voice talking to Lambart as he was shown into his room, Monty burst in and wrung his hands again and again.
“Why, Monty,” his friend said, “you overpower me.”