HELEN, alas! returned uncomforted to her home. She had little hope. Grateful indeed for the true and real consideration George Hierons had shown her, a single conversation with him had yet proved that he, too, like all the members of the group to which he belonged, was an extremist.
At breakfast next morning, John, who was haggard and overstrung from loss of sleep, told his wife casually that George Hierons was coming to see him on business at eleven o’clock. Helen, from a natural desire to avoid a subject that was almost a menace to reason itself, had not mentioned her own visit to Freeman’s Hotel. And so far as John knew, she was not even aware that the American was a member of the Council of Seven.
Avoid the subject as she might, Helen could not overcome a devouring curiosity in regard to Hierons’ morning call. Was there still hope of a way out of this impasse? At best it could only be tenuous. Knowing her husband for the man he was, she felt sure that he would not yield a point without the full assent of his conscience.
On the stroke of eleven Hierons arrived. He was shown at once into the small room in which John Endor did his work. At the moment his visitor came in Endor was writing a letter. Rising at once with a formal greeting, he knew by the grip of the American’s hand and his warmth of tone that he might count on his friendship and sympathy.
“I come from the Council,” said Hierons briefly and without preface.
“So I understand,” said Endor in a voice that betrayed no emotion. “Lien Weng wrote last night telling me to expect you.”
“Did he mention the proposition I bring to you?”
“No.”
Hierons was silent a short time. And then he said abruptly: “By the way, did your wife tell you of the talk we had yesterday afternoon at my hotel?”
Endor said that she had not spoken of it.
Hierons, diplomatist that he was, now began to proceed with caution. “After you had put the general position before your wife——”
“—Say rather that she dragged it out of me,” said Endor with a wan smile.
“—she came to me. And having due regard to these difficult and peculiar circumstances I took her to some extent into the Society’s confidence. Knowing so much, it seemed best, I think, that she knew more. Therefore, I would like her to hear what I have to say to you now. The whole position is so irregular that one feels her presence in this room will not do any harm. Moreover, at the point we are now approaching it is just possible that she may be able to help us.”
Endor, however, was loath to consent. Already he regretted the fact that his wife knew so much. Surely, it had been wiser and kinder to have kept his own counsel. Such a matter was bound to distress her terribly. And the pain it must cause would serve no end. This was an affair in which he was sure that her good will could not possibly avail.
Hierons, all the same, persisted in his request. For a reason of his own he greatly desired that Helen should be present. And in the end John, much against his own judgment, allowed Hierons to prevail.
Endor went himself to fetch his wife.
Helen, for her own part, was only too eager to hear what the emissary of the Council of Seven had to say to her husband. Having learned so much already, she had now a burning desire to know all. Nevertheless, her hope was small that a way of escape from a terrible dilemma could be found.