"Come now, Iris dear, let this scene end here and now. I have a little
business of a most important nature on hand, and time is precious."
He tried to disengage her hands, but she clung to him with wonderful
tenacity.
Neither saw the girl in the shadow of the vines outside, who regarded the
twain with blanched cheeks, clasped hands, and eyes dilating with a weird
and awful suffering.
"Time is precious," uttered the lips of the young wife. "Alas! that it
should be so precious that you must needs neglect me. I wish to ask you a
question, Andrew."
"Well?"
"Did you have aught to do with this robbery at the Alstine mansion?"
"Sh! my dear, that would be telling."
"I know you were up there two nights since."
"Ah, you were dogging my steps."
"No, but--"
"I cannot permit this to go on, Iris," uttered the man, sternly. "You are
ruining my business, Iris. I do wish you would return to New York."
"I will go when you go."
"Not before?"
"Not before."
Then fell a silence. There was a worried, half-angry expression on the
countenance of the man, that did not escape the notice of the girl, who,
in spite of her inclination, was a listener to all that was taking place
within the walls of the summer-house.
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