round the bush. Never did believe in it. Get down to business—that’s my motto. It’s as I told you the other day over the telephone. I’ve made up my mind to sell the Phillimore pearls.”
He nodded. “And why not? What good are they, anyhow?”
“No, no,” she objected. “It’s perfectly true—they’re no good to me. I’m a great believer in what’s fitting—and those gorgeous pearls were meant for youth. However, that’s not the reason I’m selling. I’d hang on to them if I could. But I can’t. I—I’m broke, Alec.”
He looked out the window again.
“Sounds absurd, doesn’t it?” she went on. “All the Phillimore ships—the Phillimore acres—vanished into thin air. The big house on the beach—mortgaged to the hilt. You see—Victor—he’s made some unfortunate investments—”
“I see,” said Eden softly.
“Oh, I know what you’re thinking, Alec. Victor’s a bad, bad boy. Foolish and careless and—and worse, perhaps. But he’s all I’ve got, since Fred went. And I’m sticking by him.”
“Like the good sport you are,” he smiled. “No, I wasn’t thinking unkindly of Victor, Sally. I—I have a son myself.”
“Forgive me,” she said. “I should have asked before. How’s Bob?”
“Why, he’s all right, I guess. He may come in before you leave—if he happens to have had an early breakfast.”
“Is he with you in the business?”
Eden shrugged. “Not precisely. Bob’s been out of college
