Page 176 (1/1)
Her lips quivered and the sense of i over her life beca
"I'll come back as soon as I can," she promised, with a little break in her voice,--"as soon as ever I can, Mr Heepman"
She hurried out of the theatre and took her place onceof pedestrians Several people turned round to look at her Her white face, tight-drawn e, seeedy She herself saw no one She would have taken a cab, but a glimpse at the contents of her purse dissuaded her She walked steadily on to Jermyn Street, walked up the stairs to the third floor, and knocked at her brother's door No one answered her at first She turned the handle and entered to find the room empty There were sounds, however, in the further apartment, and she called out to him
"Arthur," she cried, "are you there?"
"Who is it?" he demanded
"It is I--Zoe!" she exclaimed
"What do you want?"
"I want to speak to you, Arthur I must speak to you Please come as quickly as you can"
He growled so theclothes in which he had attended court earlier in the day, but the change in him was perhaps all the more marked by reason of this resumption of his old attire His cheeks were hollow, his eyes scarcely for an instant seeleam of terror hich he had returned from Liverpool He knew very hat she had coan nervously to try and bully her
"I wish you wouldn't come to these rooms, Zoe," he said "I've told you before they're bachelors' apartments, and they don't like women about the place What is it? What do you want?"
"I was brought here last time without any particular desire onhim in the face "I've coainst Stephen Laverick? What were you doing in the court thisof it, Arthur?"
"If you've cohly, "you'd better be off"
"No, it is not rubbish!" she went on fearlessly "I think I can understand what it is that has happened They have terrified you and bribed you until you are willing to do any despicable thing--even this Your father was good to my h you were indeed a relation But nothing of that counts I want you to realize that I know the truth, and that I will not see an innocent o free"