She caught her breath and looked at him. She swallowed and said hurriedly:

“Could you—? I thought—I—that is—” Then she tortured her lower lip with

glistening teeth and said nothing. Only her dark eyes spoke now, pleading.

 

Spade smiled and nodded as if he understood her, but pleasantly, as if nothing

serious were involved. He said: “Suppose you tell me about it, from the

beginning, and then we’ll know what needs doing. Better begin as far back as you

can.”

 

“That was in New York.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I don’t know where she met him. I mean I don’t know where in New York.

 

She’s five years younger than I—only seventeen—and we didn’t have the same

friends. I don’t suppose we’ve ever been as close as sisters should be. Mama and

Papa are in Europe. It would kill them. I’ve got to get her back before they

come home.”

 

“Yes,” he said.

 

“They’re coming home the first of the month.”

 

Spade’s eyes brightened. “Then we’ve two weeks,” he said.