Eugene went.There was nothing else to do; and he wished with every step that the distance to the portals of the library might have been greater.
In whatever guise he delivered the summons, it was perfectly efficacious.A door slammed, a heavy and rapid tread was heard in the hall, and Ariel, without otherwise moving, turned her head and offered a brilliant smile of greeting.
"It was good of you," she said, as the doorway filled with red, imperial wrath, "to wish to have a little chat with me.I'm anxious, of course, to go over my affairs with you, and last night, after my journey, I was too tired.But now we might begin;not in detail, of course, just yet.That will do for later, when I've learned more about business."The great one had stopped on the threshold.
"Madam," he began, coldly, "when I say my library, I mean my--""Oh yes," she interrupted, with amiable weariness.
"I know.You mean you keep all the papers and books of the estate in there, but I think we'd better put them off for a few days--""I'm not talking about the estate!" he exclaimed.
"What I want to talk to you about is being seen with Joseph Louden!""Yes," she nodded, brightly."That's along the line we must take up first.""Yes, it is!" He hurled his bull-bass at her.
"You knew everything about him and his standing in this community! I know you did, because Mrs.