"I think he can always contrive
things like that." She hesitated a moment, and then added: "He said also
that he wished to find out certain things about Mr. Ffolliott--'trifling
data,' he called it--that he might be able to lay his hands on things if
father came. He told me to explain to you."
"That was intended for a taunt--but it's a warning," Betty said,
thinking the thing over. "We are rather like ladies left alone to
defend a besieged castle. He wished us to feel that." She tightened her
enclosing arm. "But we stand together--together. We shall not fail each
other. We can face siege until father comes."
"You wrote to him last night?"
"A long letter, which I wish him to receive before he sails. He might
decide to act upon it before leaving New York, to advise with some legal
authority he knows and trusts, to prepare our mother in some way--to do
some wise thing we cannot foresee the value of. He has known the outline
of the story, but not exact details--particularly recent ones. I have
held back nothing it was necessary he should know. I am going out to
post the letter myself. I shall send a cable asking him to prepare to
come to us after he has reflected on what I have written.
Pages:
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833