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.She went to unlock the gate and David took her hand to say goodbye.He walked away toward a smart red car.Sarah stood at the top of the stairs and even in her strange state, part a quenchless feeling of joyous excitement, and part dismay, she thought to herself, Why, that’s not his car.But Malvina turned and began to come up and Sarah turned to run away.That first day she had come here and found Grandfather, she had felt easy and at home after some long terrible weeks.Until Malvina had come, storming and scolding, and making it clear that Sarah might have killed the dear old man with such a shock.Malvina had even discharged the couple … the Neppers … because Mrs.Nepper, in all kindness, had let her in.Sarah had never thought it was fair, never quite liked Malvina Lupino.Never trusted her temper.She felt Edgar take hold of her shoulders and give her a little push.“Go, get dressed,” he said.“This hasn’t got anything to do with you.If Malvina wants him here,” said Edgar bitterly, “he’ll come.”Sarah began to hurry across the garden.She looked back.Edgar was looking thunderous.Malvina was smiling her wide frank smile and her eyes were lifted, wide and innocent, to his scrutiny.Sarah, trying to banish misgivings and forebodings, trying to be sensible, could not banish the one deep joyous cry.It has to do with me.I will be working by his side.A few miles away, the other side of the settlement, David sat on the floor beside Consuelo’s fire, eating his supper quickly off a divided plate.“So you didn’t mention me at all?” she mused.“Thought I’d better not.After, Consuelo, you weren’t let in.Besides, I want you working in the dark.You are my secret service.”“I’m a genius at it, too,” said Consuelo smugly.“Never knew my own resources.For instance, I can tell you a lot about Edgar Perrott.”“Pray do,” said David with his mouth full.Consuelo, who was supping from a tray, put her fork down.“He is some distant connection of Fox’s.He hails from Fresno.I got on the phone.Seems this Edgar got into a jam.He either did, or was only suspected of doing, what no ethical doctor would do.And while he got off with a verdict of ‘not proven,’ his practice fell out from under him.So Edgar was down and out and very low, some four or five years ago, when he approached the Fox.Now, I imagine he is up there for two reasons.One, I think he’s lazy and Fox keeps him.Two, his reputation has that spot on it.”“Three,” said David, “he is wild for Malvina and as green-eyed as they come.”“Imagine!” sighed Consuelo.“And is Malvina wild for him?”David cast her a worried glance.“What about the money? Did you find out anything?”“Sure.I found out that if you are brash enough you can intimidate respectable people into telling you a heck of a lot more than they should.I pumped young Gordon.Fox is in the chips, all right.Willed it, share and share alike, to those girls.”“Don’t tell me.Let me tell you,” groaned David.“When one girls dies without an heir …”“Wrong!” said Consuelo.“Survivor does not take all.Fox is too smart to set up anything like that.”“Then I can’t see …”“Neither can I.And there’s this, too, Davey.Sarah gets a modest allowance, right now, but Malvina gets a good-sized amount on the excuse that she is Fox’s right-hand woman and earns it.Looks as if Malvina has no money motive whatsoever but to count her blessings.And look at their attitude.You say they seem to worry about Sarah, say they seem to want to help her, ask you right in there just to give Sarah a job and keep her happy.Sounds to me,” said Consuelo dejectedly, “as if we are fresh out of villains.Edgar may not always have been the most upright soul in the world, but what on earth motive would he have to harass the girl? Malvina, who rattled around with some pretty scummy people when she was young, may or may not be a reformed character, but she is sitting pretty.As for Fox, he seems to have been the noble benefactor all around.”David’s hand was massaging the back of his neck.“Well, I dunno,” said he.“You don’t!” cried Consuelo with delight.“Tell me.”“One little thing …”“Go on.Go on.”“Listen carefully while I quote.”“I’m falling out of my chair listening, you great goop.”“When I put it to Fox that I wanted Sarah to work for me, this is what he said.” David began to mimic the old man’s voice.“‘I do appreciate your interest and your courage, too, Mr.Wakeley.You are not frightened? The accident doesn’t …’” David stopped and looked up at her.“Right there, Malvina breaks in and says quickly, ‘Of course Sarah’s little accidents don’t frighten Mr.Wakeley, Grandfather.Mr.Wakeley is a reasonable man.’ So then Fox says, ‘Perhaps you would be very good for our poor Sarah.Yes.Yes, I do think so.’”David’s mimicking voice ceased.“Accident …” said Consuelo thoughtfully.“The accident.Not plural.”“What?”“Now, Consuelo, I have heard many people say ‘He don’t’ incorrectly.But I’ve never heard one say “They doesn’t.’ Fox was talking about one accident.And what accident? Mine.I’m certain that Fox knows about my car.”Consuelo felt a goose go over her grave.“How does he know? I didn’t tell anyone, especially not Malvina.I think there must have been some slip.He thought I had told Malvina.”“And she tried to cover up that slip!” Consuelo’s soft old face looked as ferocious as possible.“And therefore Malvina also knows.And moreover, the old man let her cover and he went along with that.And if they do know about my car and don’t speak of it to me, then there sure is something devious and dishonest going on.”Consuelo said uneasily in a moment, “Do you think you’d better go and stay there? Possibly it’s a nest of snakes, Davey.”“That’s why I jumped at it,” David said.“One thing worries me.I’m on a false basis with Sarah.Couldn’t speak to her aside, you know.There wasn’t a chance.I’ll have to make one.She doesn’t realize why I’ll be there.”“Davey, you’ll get no work done
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