from this date I have no objection to his position with the Scarwyck
Foundation being made public knowledge.
There were two lines on the right for the signatures and a third line on
the left for the signature of a witness. ElizAbeth realized it was a
professional document. It said nothing, but covered everythin&
“You don’t seriously expect me to sign this?”
“I honestly do. You see, if you don’t, my overbearin’ sense of
responsibility would make me go right to the authorities. No doubt direct
to the office of the district attorney with information I believe relevant
to Mr. Scarlett’s disappearance. . . . Can you imagine the international
stir that would cause? The mere fact that the celebrated Madame Scarlatti
was goin’ to question the banks where her son did business—-!’
11911 deny everything.”
‘Unfortunately, you couldn’t deny the missin’ securities. They don’t have
to be redeemed for a year, but they are missin!.’
Elizabeth stared at the Southerner, knowing she was beaten. She sat down
and silently reached for a pen. She signed the papers as he in turn took
each page and did the same.
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CHAPTER 15
Ebzabeth!s trunks were placed aboard the British liner Ca1purnia. She had
told her family that the events of the past few months had taken their toll
of her patience and health and she planned an extended stay in Europe-by
herself. She was sailing the next morning. Chancellor Drew agreed that a
trip might be beneficial, but he strongly urged his mother to take along a
companion. After all, Elizabeth was no longer young, and in her advanced
years someone should accompany her. He suggested Janet.
Elizabeth suggested that Chancellor Drew save his suggestions for the
Scarwyck Foundation, but the issue of Janet had to be faced.
She asked the girl to come to her house late in the afternoon two days
before the Ca1purnia sailed.
“ne things you tell me are hard to believe, Janet. Not so much about my
son, but about you. Did you love bim?1.
“Yes. I think so. Or perhaps I was overwhelmed by him. In the beginning
there were so many people, so many places. Everything went so fast. And
then I realized —slowly-that he didn’t like me. He couldn’t stand being
in the same room with me. I was an irritating necessity. Godl Don’t ask me
whyl”
Elizabeth remembered her son’s words. “It’s time I was married… She’ll
make me a good wife.” Why had he said those words? Why had it been so
important to him?
‘Vas he faithful?”
The girl threw back her head and laughed. “Do you
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know what it’s like to share your husband with-well, you’re never quite
sure?”
“The new psychology tells us that men often behave this way to compensate,
Janet. To convince themselves that they’re-adequate.”
“Wrong again, Madame Searlatti!” Janet emphasized Elizabeth’s name with
slight contempt. “Your son was adequate. -In the extreme. I suppose I
shouldn’t say this, but we made love a great deal. The time, the place, it
never mattered to Ulster. Or whether I wanted to or not. That was the last
consideration. I mean I was the last consideration.”
‘IyVhy did you put up with him? That’s what I find difficult to
understand.”
Janet Scarlett reached into her purse. She withdrew a pack of cigarettes
and nervously lit one. “I’ve told you this much. Why not the rest…. I was
afraid.”
“Of whatTl
“I don’t know. I’ve never thought it out. Why don’t we call
it-appearances.”
“If you don’t mind my saying so, that strikes me as foolish.”
“You forget, I was the wife of the Ulster Stewart Scarlett. I’d caught him.
. . . It’s not so easy to admit that I wasn’t able to hold him any longer
than a few months.”
“I see your point… We both know that a divorce on the grounds of assumed
desertion would be best for you, but you’d be criticized unmercifully. It
would appear to be in the poorest taste.”
“I know that. I’ve decided to wait until a year is up before I get the
divorce. A year is a reasonable time. It would be understandable.”
“I’m not sure that would be in your interesL”
-Why not?”
“You’d completely separate yoursett and partially separate your child from
the Scarlatti family. I’ll be frank with you. -1 don’t trust Chancellor
under these circumstances..P
“I doWt understand.”
“Once you made the first move, he’d use every legal weapon available to
have you declared unfit.”
“Whatl”
“He’d control both the child and the inheritance. Fortunately . – .”
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“You’re madl”
Elizabeth continued as if Janet had not interrupted. “Fortunately,
Chancellor’s sense of propriety~which borders on the ridiculous-would
prevent him from initiating action that might cause embarrassment. But if
you provoked…. No, Janet, a divorce isn’t the answer.”
“Do you know what you’re saying?”
“I assure you I do. . . . If I could guarantee that I’d be alive a year
from now I’d give you my blessingl I can’t, do that. And without me to stop
him, Chancellor would
be a conniving wild animall”
. “There is nothing, nothing Chancellor can do to mel Or my child I”
“Please, my dear. I’m no moralist. But your behavior hasn’t been above
reproach.”
“I don’t have to listen to thisl” Janet rose from the sofa and opened her
pocketbook, replacing the pack of cigarettes and taking out her gloves.
“I’m not making judgments. You’re an intelligent girl. Whatever you do, I’m
sure there are reasons. . . . If it’s any comfort, I think you’ve spent a
year in bell.”
“Yes. A year in bell.” Janet Scarlett began putting on her gloves.
Elizabeth spoke rapidly as she crossed to her desk by the window. “But
let’s be candid. If Ulster were here, or in evidence anywhere, an
uncontested divorce could be arranged quietly, without difficulty. After
all, neither ‘ is without blemish. But, as the law says, one of the parties
is removed, perhaps deceased, but not legally declared dead. And there’s a
child, an only child. That child is Ulster’s heir. This, Janet, is the
problem.”
Elizabeth wondered if the girl was beginning to understand. The trouble
with the young rich, she decided, wasn’t that they took their money for
granted, but. that they couldn’t comprehend that money, though a by-pro-
duct, was a true catalyst to power and, because of this, a frightening
thing.
“Once you made the first: move, the birds bf prey from both camps would
descend. In the final analysis, the Scarlatti name would become a joke in
the back rooms of athletic clubs. And that I will not havel”
Elizabeth took out several folders from the desk drawer, selected one, and
replaced the others. She sat down behind the desk and looked over at the
girl.
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“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, I think I do,” the girl said slowly, looking down at her gloved
hands. “You want to conveniently tuck me away out of sight so nothing can
disturb your precious Scarletts.” She hesitated, lifting her head to return
her mother-in-law’s gaze. “And I thought for a minute you were going to be
kind.”
“You can’t very well qualify as a charity case,” said Elizabeth.
“No, I suppose not. But since I’m not looking for charity, that doesn’t
matter, does it? I guess you’re trying to be kind, in your own way.”
“Then you’ll do as I suggest?” Elizabeth moved the folder to put it back in
the drawer.
“No,” Janet Saxon Scarlett said firmly. “I’ll do exactly as I please. And
I don’t think I’ll be a joke in athletic clubs.”
“Don’t be too sure of thatl” Elizabeth slammed the folder back on the top
of the desk.
“I’ll wait until a year is up,” said Janet, “and then do whatever I have
to. My father will know what to do. I’ll do what he says.”
“Your father may have certain misgivings. He’s a businessman.”
“He’s also my fatherl”
“I can very well understand that, my dear. I understand it so well that I
suggest you allow me to ask you several questions before you go.”
Elizabeth stood up and crossed to the library door. Closing it, she turned
the brass lock.
Janet watched the old woman’s movement with as much curiosity as fear. It
was not like her mother-inlaw to be the least concerned about
interruptions. Any, unwanted intruder was promptly ordered out.
“There’s nothing more to say. I want to leave.”
“I agree. You have little to say,” broke in Elizabeth, who had returned to
the desk. “You enjoyed Europe, my dear? Paris, Marseilles, Rome? I must
say, though, New York’s apparently a dull place for you. I suppose under
the circumstances there’s far more to offer across the ocean.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that. You seem to have enjoyed yourself somewhat unreasonably. My son
found himself quite a likely
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playmate for his escapades. However, if I do say so, he was frequently less