and wants me to run over for a minute. You don't mind?"
"Oh, hang Lucy," he said impatiently. "Just when I wanted you all to myself."
"I'll only be a minute."
"If you'll wait five minutes, I'll go over with you." He was anxious to be with her as much as possible.
"No, you go ahead and get dressed and I'll be back before you're ready to come down to dinner." The maid was already setting the table for two in the next room. "It will only make it harder to get away if you're with me. I can tell her I must get back to you."
She went over to him and kissed him and he reluctantly yielded. As soon as he had disappeared up the steps she went over to the wall-safe in the living-room. She had taken the precaution to place her new bank-book and check-book there while she accompanied Dudley swimming. She twirled the combination, pulled open the door, and fumbled hastily in the drawer of the inner compartment for the books. She heard something fall as she secured them and turned away, giving the safedoor a push to close it but not making sure it had locked. She was too intent upon getting away before Dudley summoned her for some reason or other to investigate what had fallen down inside the safe.
