Page:Dangerous Business (1927).pdf/286

 no satisfaction anywhere else. He wanted to go nowhere else.

He went to the office.

Ellen knew, at sight of him, that he had been told. She knew he had been with the Howarths and she realized that the quiet young man, whom she'd liked and who was so important to Art Slengel, must have been Lyman; and she was certain that Lyman would have related to Jay the event which had surprised the party last night.

She did not speak to Jay and he sat down in Ralph's chair. He put up no pretense of having anything to do; and she sat with her hands before her, looking at him.

Finally Jay said: "I came from Howarths'."

"I saw one of the Mr. Howarths last night," replied Ellen.

"Lyman."

"Yes. . . . I was with Lew Alban."

Jay pushed himself upon his feet. "Lyman didn't know who you were—that you were anybody to me. I mean that you and I . . ." Jay began again. "He told me there was a girl at the party named Powell; she was the daughter of the Powell on the ship and that he saw you . . . he saw her hear it. He'd no idea it meant anything to me."

Jay had not meant to repeat that. He controlled himself and said, coldly: "We got Howarth to-day."

"What?"

"We got Howarth—the business of the Howarth-Lyman company," he explained, politely. "We'd been rather needing it, you know. Your friend has been so likely to leave us. He can leave us now whenever he