“Oh—and will you also tell whoever has to know about it that Dr. Worth plans to stay here all night? And then let him know, please, where he is to sleep.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jane went to the door of Mrs. Endicott’s room and knocked. Nurse Vickers opened it and stepped halfway out, blocking the entrance. Their voices were too low for Lieutenant Valcour to hear, but he saw the nurse retreat into the room, caught an affirmative nod from Jane, and presently Roberts came out and toward him.
“You wished to see me, Lieutenant?”
There was still that curious shielding in her eyes—a hinting at definite information kept closely guarded behind twin gates.
“I want you to tell me,” he said quietly, “why you compelled me a while ago in Mrs. Endicott’s room to say ‘Later.’ ”
“I don’t believe I quite understand.”
“And I believe that you do.”
Roberts became coolly detached. “One is justified in having one’s beliefs.”
“Just why do you hate Mrs. Endicott so?”
She flinched as if he had struck her physically.
“Is that why you sent for me?” she said.
Lieutenant Valcour himself indulged in a veiling of eyes. “I wish,” he said, “that you would sit down.”