Those ill-looking epistles of
Pine's had nauseated him lately. He had begun to experience the sensation
of over-indulgence. Some one had told him, a time back, of Boswell's
leaving the city, and he had been glad of the suspicion that arose in him
when he heard it.
Later in the day the forces Priscilla had set in motion touched and drew
him into the maelstrom.
"Ledyard"--this over the telephone--"my daughter has just informed me
that she is about to break her engagement. May I see you at--three?"
"Yes. Here, or at your office?"
"I will come to you."
They had it out, man to man, and with all the time-honoured and hoary
arguments.
"My girl's a fool!" Moffatt panted, red-faced and eloquent. "Not to
mention what this really means to all of us, there is the girl's own
happiness at stake. What are we to tell the world? You cannot go about
and--explain! Good Lord! Ledyard, Huntter stands so high in public esteem
that to start such a story as this about him would be to ruin my own
reputation."
"No. The thing's got to die," Ledyard mused. "Die at its birth."
"Die in my girl's heart! Good God! Ledyard, you ought to see her after
the one night! It wrings my heart.
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