DOI Artikel:
Crackanthorpe, Hubert: The Haseltons
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21806#0158
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The Haseltons
VIII
Swann strode into the room. Hillier looked up at him from
his writing-table in unfeigned surprise ; greeted him cordially,
with a couple of trite, cheery remarks concerning the weather,
then waited abruptly for an explanation of this morning visit ; for
Swann’s trouble was written on his face.
“You look worried. Is there anything wrong ? ” Hillier
asked presently.
“ Yes.”
“Well, can I do anything ? If I can be of any Service to you,
old fellow, you know I-”
“ I discovered last night what a damned blackguard you are.”
He spoke savagely, as if his bluntness exulted him : his tone
quivered with suppressed passion.
Hillier, with a quick movement of his head, flinched as if he
had been struck in the face. And the lines about his mouth were
set rigidly.
There was a long, tense silence. Hillier was drawing circles
on a corner of the blotting-pad ; Swann was Standing over him,
glaring at him with a fierce, hateful curiosity. Hillier be-
came conscious of the other’s expression, and his fist clenched
obviously.
“ I saw you get into a cab with that woman,” Swann went on.
“ I was in an omnibus going home. I followed you—drove after
you. I wanted to stop you—to stop it—I was too late.”
“ Ah ! ” An exasperated, sneering note underlined the ex-
clamation. Hillier drove the pen-point_mto the table. The nib
curled and snapped.
The
The Haseltons
VIII
Swann strode into the room. Hillier looked up at him from
his writing-table in unfeigned surprise ; greeted him cordially,
with a couple of trite, cheery remarks concerning the weather,
then waited abruptly for an explanation of this morning visit ; for
Swann’s trouble was written on his face.
“You look worried. Is there anything wrong ? ” Hillier
asked presently.
“ Yes.”
“Well, can I do anything ? If I can be of any Service to you,
old fellow, you know I-”
“ I discovered last night what a damned blackguard you are.”
He spoke savagely, as if his bluntness exulted him : his tone
quivered with suppressed passion.
Hillier, with a quick movement of his head, flinched as if he
had been struck in the face. And the lines about his mouth were
set rigidly.
There was a long, tense silence. Hillier was drawing circles
on a corner of the blotting-pad ; Swann was Standing over him,
glaring at him with a fierce, hateful curiosity. Hillier be-
came conscious of the other’s expression, and his fist clenched
obviously.
“ I saw you get into a cab with that woman,” Swann went on.
“ I was in an omnibus going home. I followed you—drove after
you. I wanted to stop you—to stop it—I was too late.”
“ Ah ! ” An exasperated, sneering note underlined the ex-
clamation. Hillier drove the pen-point_mto the table. The nib
curled and snapped.
The