"
"I've nothing else to cut loose with," I replied. "I used up everything,
last night."
"Good," said he. "If the pressure is off, you are in shape to think."
I shook my head. "No, I'm not--that's why I sent for you--to do the
thinking."
He picked up the Police report. "I'm glad she registered as Mrs. Armand
Dalberg," he said.
"The devil you are!" I exclaimed.
He nodded. "The first problem to solve is: What motive this woman has in
proclaiming herself your wife. There are only two motives possible, I
think, and this registry utterly eliminates one of them."
"You mean it is not blackmail," I said.
"Exactly."
"And the other motive?"
"Revenge."
"Oh, no," I said; "that woman didn't come from America to Dornlitz simply
for revenge."
"Very good," said Courtney. "Then, the motive is not hers and we must
look elsewhere for it."
"If you mean she is only a tool," said I, "that is almost as unlikely as
revenge."
"On the contrary, why couldn't it be both--and, also, a big pile of
money?" he asked.
"Because," said I, "she would balk at the notoriety."
Courtney laughed. "Good, yellow gold, and plenty of it, is a wonderful
persuader."
"Come," said I; "what's your guess in the matter?"
He tossed aside his cigarette and leaned a bit forward in his chair.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179