And so, in
the end, I took her. As Halsey said, when we told him, it didn't
matter much about the cook's face, if it was clean.
I have spoken of Halsey's restlessness. On that day it seemed to
be more than ever a resistless impulse that kept him out until
after luncheon. I think he hoped constantly that he might meet
Louise driving over the hills in her runabout: possibly he did
meet her occasionally, but from his continued gloom I felt sure
the situation between them was unchanged.
Part of the afternoon I believe he read--Gertrude and I were out,
as I have said, and at dinner we both noticed that something had
occurred to distract him. He was disagreeable, which is unlike
him, nervous, looking at his watch every few minutes, and he ate
almost nothing. He asked twice during the meal on what train Mr.
Jamieson and the other detective were coming, and had long
periods of abstraction during which he dug his fork into my
damask cloth and did not hear when he was spoken to. He refused
dessert, and left the table early, excusing himself on the ground
that he wanted to see Alex.
Alex, however, was not to be found. It was after eight when
Halsey ordered the car, and started down the hill at a pace that,
even for him, was unusually reckless. Shortly after, Alex
reported that he was ready to go over the house, preparatory to
closing it for the night. Sam Bohannon came at a quarter before
nine, and began his patrol of the grounds, and with the arrival
of the two detectives to look forward to, I was not especially
apprehensive.
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