THE YELLOW DOVE
“You—a coward!” Doris repeated, wide-eyed. “I don’t believe you.”
He bent his head again.
“I—I’m afraid you’d better,” he said uncertainly. She rose, still looking at him incredulously, another doubt, a more dreadful one, winging its flight to and fro across her inner vision.
“Come,” she said in a tone she hardly recognized as her own, “come let us join the others.”
He stood uncertainly and as she started to go,
“You’ll let me take you home, Doris?” he asked.
She bent her head, and without replying made her way to the group beyond the alcove.
Hammersley stood a moment watching her diminishing back and then a curious expression, half of trouble, half of resolution, came into his eyes.
Then after a quick glance around the curtain he suddenly reached into his trousers pocket, took something out and scrutinized it carefully by the light of the lamp. He put it back quickly and setting his monocle sauntered forth into the room. As he moved to join the group at the piano John Rizzio met him in the middle of the room.
“Could I have a word with you, Hammersley?” he asked.
“Happy,” said the Honorable Cyril. “Here?”
“In the smoking-room—if you don’t mind?”
Hammersley hesitated a moment and then swung on his heels and led the way. At the smoking-room door from the hallway Rizzio paused, then quietly drew the heavy curtains behind them.
Hammersley, standing by the table, followed this action with a kind of bored curiosity, aware that Rizzio’s dark gaze had never once left him since they had
24
