Page:The council of seven.djvu/63

 eyes, she said without a word of preface in a low voice, "I wish to give formal notice to terminate my engagement here."

Saul Hartz's answer was to drum gently with a pencil on his blotting pad.

"I think it's cruel!" Her eyes filled suddenly with tears. "The speech is in all the papers this morning. And the Planet has a leading article after your promise!"

The Colossus gazed at her impassively, and then he said, in that peculiar soft tone that now made her shiver. "Sit down, my dear child, and compose yourself. There's something I have to say to you."

Against her own reluctant will, Helen took a chair at the side of his desk, towards which he pointed.

"To begin with," he said, "let me apologize for a mistake—a regrettable mistake. The instructions I gave hurriedly last night over the telephone were misunderstood. But I want you to believe"—the soft voice was now fused with feeling—"that that mistake, deplorable as it is, after all, is only of minor importance."

Helen could only gasp. Of only minor importance! How dare he say that!

"You see, on inquiry, we learn that the speech was made as reported."

"But Mr. Endor declares that he never used the words attributed to him," was Helen's answer, quick and stern.