Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/97

 the directors of the Tri-Lake Corporation might be led to think that his health was permanently impaired; this presumption would be unjustifiable but, considering the internal situation of the corporation, Mr. Hale believed that it would seriously affect his prospects for promotion to Mr. Dorsett's position. Therefore, Mr. Hale arranged that Doctor Grantham operate in a small, private hospital and, during the period of his convalescence, he would give out that he was ill at home from an ordinary case of influenza.

"Doctor Grantham therefore took him to Fursten's, instructing his girl to communicate with Mrs. Hale; she telephoned to the Hale home, was informed that Mrs. Hale was at the club where Mrs. Lovell was giving a dance; and Doctor Grantham's girl called there, not finding Mrs. Hale, but Miss Hale, who, with the advice of William Whittaker and Gregg Mowbry, decided to spare Mrs. Hale anxiety and not inform her until the operation was performed.

"Miss Hale and William Whittaker and Mowbry immediately left for Fursten's and Miss Hale and Whittaker were actually present while the operation was performed; this was successful and Whittaker took Miss Hale to her home.

"The above constitute the essential facts. Comment: it is not expected that the belief that Mr. Hale is ill at home with influenza can be successfully maintained. However, this will be originally stated with the expectation that, sooner or later, others will discover he has been in a city hospital for a surgical operation. The 'truth' as above outlined will then be reluctantly admitted; that will be found to satisfy every one and nothing more damaging will be suspected."

Gregg looked up, as Billy came beside him impatiently and broke out again, "Good God, how could a