Page:Watts Mumford--Whitewash.djvu/315

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WHITEWASH

curity, tell her certain secrets concerning this 'Polish Educational League.' I fancy he wished her to be compromised by appearances, that he might obtain a hold over her in case she should discover the real nature of the 'society.' As to Gagano's, of course Philippa had never even heard of the place, and hadn't the remotest notion of its reputation. She trusted to Valdeck not to take her to any objectionable resort. I am greatly incensed against her myself, Mr. Conway, for this, but I try to do the girl justice."

Morton bethought him of sundry allusions of Philippa's, and doubted her complete ignorance of the name and nature of the infamous little restaurant, but he said nothing.

"For the sake of old times," Mrs. Ford went bravely on, "I want you to help me save the child's reputation. Do what you can to prevent this miserable story from getting into circulation. People who do not know Philippa's character as we do, might misjudge her in the matter of the dinner if it should become known. I hope we may be able to prevent the letters she gave in evidence from being made public. She has, I find,

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