Alpha Book

May I begin?"
"What is it, Phil?" she asked, her quick, curious eyes intent on his
troubled face.
"It is about--Alixe."
"What about her?" returned his sister calmly.
"You knew her in school--years ago. You have always known her--"
"Yes."
"You--did you ever visit her?--stay at the Varians' house?"
"Yes."
"In--in her own home in Westchester?"
"Yes."
There was a silence; his eyes shifted to his plate; remained fixed as he
said:
"Then you knew her--father?"
"Yes, Phil," she said quietly, "I knew Mr. Varian."
"Was there anything--anything unusual--about him--in those days?"
"Have you heard that for the first time?" asked his sister.
He looked up: "Yes. What was it, Nina?"
She became busy with her plate for a while; he sat rigid, patient, one
hand resting on his claret-glass. And presently she said without meeting
his eyes:
"It was even farther back--her grandparents--one of them--" She lifted
her head slowly--"That is why it so deeply concerned us, Phil, when we
heard of your marriage.


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