Read Online Who Pays the Piper? by Patricia Wentworth - Free Book Online Page B

she was when she died.” She thought how easy it would be to be dead and not to have to break your heart.
    She stood there and thought about Bill——“I’ve got a right to break my heart for Cathy, but I’m breaking Bill’s heart too——” A small, cold voice answered her. It said, “He’ll get over it. Cathy wouldn’t . Men have died and worms have eaten them, but not for love.” Cathy could be broken like a leaf. Bill would suffer, but he wouldn’t break. She didn’t think about herself at all. There was no feeling there—it was all numb. She thought about Bill, and Cathy, and Aunt Milly. She thought Aunt Milly would crumple up if anything happened to Cathy. She sat down in the big leather chair and stopped thinking.
    The door near the windows opened. Mr. Vincent C. Bell looked in. When he saw Susan he came right in.
    â€œWhen I had the pleasure of meeting you the other day I called you out of your name, so I’m very glad to have the opportunity of saying how do you do all over again. I’m very pleased to meet you, Miss Lenox.”
    Susan looked at him vaguely—the man she had met, coming up from the rose garden—Cathy had said he was staying——She said,
    â€œAre you looking for Mr. Dale?”
    He said, “Mr. Phipson.”
    â€œIf you go out by that other door you will see the back stairs on your left. Mr. Phipson’s room is at the end of the long passage at the top of the stairs.”
    â€œWell, there’s no hurry,” said Vincent Bell.
    Susan said in a tired voice, “My cousin is ill. I am just waiting to take her home. I think if you don’t mind——”
    He seemed a long way off as he apologized and went.
    Susan waited. It was a relief when Dale came into the room. She stood up to meet him and said what she had planned to say.
    â€œYou know I am engaged to Bill Carrick——”
    â€œYou have been engaged.”
    â€œYou know we love each other—very much——”
    â€œI love you too,” said Lucas Dale.
    â€œBut I love Bill. I shall always love him.”
    â€œAlways is a long time.”
    Susan shivered.
    â€œWhat good will it be to you if I don’t love you—if I love Bill?”
    He gave her a strange look.
    â€œI think that’s my look-out. Are you going to marry me?”
    Her control broke.
    â€œDon’t make me—don’t make me!”
    Dale said, “I’m not making you do anything. I’ve come here to get your answer.”
    She said, “I can’t!” and saw him go to the table and pick up the telephone.
    â€œIs that your last word? Once I call up the police station there’ll be no going back.”
    â€œNo—no—don’t ring! I didn’t mean that. You mustn’t ring.”
    â€œWell, I don’t want to,” said Dale. “But you’ll have to know your own mind, because, you see, I’ve got to trust you. I’ve got to be sure that you won’t let me down. I’ve got to take my decision right away. If I don’t ring up the police now, it’s not going to be easy to ring them up later on, in a day or two, if you come to me and say you’ve changed your mind. How am I going to guard against that?”
    Susan’s lips said stiffly, “If I say I’ll do it——”
    â€œI could guard myself,” said Dale. “I could get you to sign a statement to say you’d found my pearls in your cousin’s bag. But I’m not going to do that—I’m going to trust your word. You see, that’s how I think of you. If you gave your word you wouldn’t go back on it. Are you going to marry me, Susan?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œNext week?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYes, Susan—yes.” His voice changed suddenly, softened. “What’s the good of putting it off, my dear?”
    That was true. It was