Page:The council of seven.djvu/51

 carry in his mind her address, but it was like him not to forget the simplest of facts. "Besides, I take all responsibility for getting you home."

"And accept it, I hope"—yielding with a laugh—"if I am late to-morrow at the Office."

"Let me get you a cup of tea or something." He pressed a bell. "I'm going to have a whisky and soda myself."

Helen declined refreshment.

To the servant who entered Mr. Hartz said: "Please tell Jennings the brougham will be wanted in half an hour."

Duly armed with a "nightcap" which contained a great deal more soda than whisky the Colossus sat cosily down by the fire immediately opposite Helen. A man of fifty-two, his manner towards this singularly attractive woman of six-and-twenty was so whimsically, yet frankly, paternal, that something beyond disparity of years seemed necessary to sustain it.

An odd sensation, unlike anything she had ever felt before, came subtly upon Helen. This man's personality was geared very high, but unlike that of John Endor it seemed to be a fixed quantity, not liable to fluctuate. In his case the nerves didn't show. To talk to, when he chose, he was delightful. Just now, perhaps half deliberately, he chose.

If the question was not impertinent, why was she concerned so particularly for John Endor's reputation?