"You never can tell!"
Gilbert rose.
"Finished?" asked Pell.
"Quite." And young Jones handed him the option on the property.
CHAPTER VII
WHEREIN LUCIA SEES TREACHERY BREWING, PELL PROVES HIMSELF A BRUTE, AND AN
UNEXPECTED GUEST APPEARS
When Lucia saw Gilbert pass the paper to her husband, she thought she could
not stand it. It was not her concern; and yet it was. Vitally, whatever
affected young Jones affected her. She could not see him tricked, duped.
And she knew that he was being played with, made a fool of. Some ulterior
motive lay beneath this seeming generosity. She tried to control herself;
but suddenly she found herself speaking.
"No! Don't! I can't--"
But she could get no farther. Something seemed to choke her, and make it
impossible for her to continue.
Her husband looked at her in amazement. She turned away, and was silent.
"Thank you," said Pell to Gilbert. Then, to his wife he said: "And now that
this is settled, we shall proceed to other business of even more
importance. This gentle soul," looking at Uncle Henry, "has said that our
friend loves you and that you love him. Is it true?" He was perfectly calm.
Once more he was the crafty, cruel, scheming man; and back into his eyes
came that glitter she so feared.
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