At noon that day a white Peter, lips trembling, very still and stiff, knocked at Miss Derring's door. She opened it, just dressed for luncheon. “Oh,” she cried--“Peter!” “Here,” said he frigidly, “is the manuscript of your play.” Her eyes, very wide, searched his face. “It is not mine. I wash my hands of it.” “Oh, Peter--please don't talk like this.” “You have chosen to enter into a conspiracy with Neuerman to wreck what little was left of my play. With Neuerman!” He emphasized the name. “I am through.” “But, Peter--be sensible. Come to lunch and we'll straighten this up in five minutes. Nothing is being forced on you. I was asked...” “You were brought here without my knowledge. And now--this!” He strode away, leaving the manuscript in her hands. She stood there in the door, following him with bewildered eyes until he had disappeared around a turn in the hall. Peter, feeling strongly (if vaguely) that he had sacrificed everything for a principle, packed his suitcase, caught a train to Pittsburgh, and later, a sleeper for New York. CHAPTER XVIII--THE WORM CONSIDERS LOVE |ZANIN came in quietly, for him; matter of fact; dropped his hat on the couch; stood with his hands in his pockets and looked down at Sue who was filling her alcohol lamp. “Well, Sue,” said he, “it's Saturday at four. I've kept my part of the agreement. You haven't had a word from me. But”--and he did show feeling here--“you are not to think that it has been easy. We've talked like sensible people, you and I, but I'm not sensible.” Still she bent over the lamp. “So you'd better tell me. Are we starting off together to-night?” “Don't ask me now,” she said. “Oh, come, Sue. Now, really!” She straightened up. “I'm not playing with you, Jacob. I promised to answer you to-day.” “Well--why don't you? Now. Why wait?” “Because I don't know yet.” “But good God, Sue! If you don't know yet--” She threw out her hands. He dropped into a chair; studied her gloomily. Then the bell rang and Peter came in. And Sue faced two grave silent men. “First,” she said, as briskly as she could, “we shall have tea.” This much accomplished and the biscuits distributed, she curled herself up on the couch. “Now,” she said, “this has been a difficult week. And I can see only one thing to do. The Nature Film Company is in a bad way.” For the first time the two men looked squarely at each other. Sue, her color up, a snap in her eyes, suppressed a perverse impulse to laugh, and steadied herself.