Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/78

 the man with Grantham was Russell; Grantham had made no introductions when Marjorie came in to look upon her father; and Marjorie was accepting everything she found without question. Billy was not yet suspicious; but his determination to take matters into his own hands was sure to uncover everything.

"Bill," Gregg said quickly, as Marjorie went back into the hall, "come here a minute!"

"Why? I want to talk to Russell or his wife."

Gregg did not argue; he jerked Billy back into the living room. There was a sun parlor with glass doors in front and Gregg opened one of these and pulled Billy into the little room with him. As he shut the glass door, he saw through it that Marjorie apparently had forgotten the question for Mr. Russell; apparently, she had not noticed that Billy and Gregg had left her; he could see her standing outside the door of the room where her father lay; she was looking in. No wonder she forgot everything else.

"Gregg," said Billy, "what in the devil"

"Bill," said Gregg, turning about. "There isn't any Mr. Russell to this flat! Do you get it now? Do you see?"

"What?"

There was no light in the sun parlor but that which came through the glass from the living room lamps and a little which streaked up from the street; even if Marjorie had turned about, she could not see Billy's face. And she did not turn. So Gregg was able to appeal:

"For God's sake, Bill, keep your voice down; and keep yourself together! Mr. Hale paid the rent on this place; there was no one here but Mrs. Russell. I mean, Bill, usually there wasn't. To-night Russell—he used to be her husband, but they got divorced