“Of course,” was the straightforward reply.
“Then I don’t see how you can expect Mr. Wheeler’s help in the campaign.”
“By offering him a complete pardon, of course.”
“But go on with the story,” demanded Genevieve. “What did they do about the Massachusetts business?”
“As you see,” returned Appleby, “this house is built on the state line between Massachusetts and Connecticut. It is carefully planned and built, and all the rooms or parts of rooms that Mr. Wheeler uses or enters are on the Connecticut side, yet the house is more than half in Massachusetts, which secures the estate to Mrs. Wheeler.”
“Well, I never!” Genevieve exclaimed. “So that’s why he can’t go to the north arbor—it’s in Massachusetts!”
“Of course it is. Also, he never goes into the northern end of the dining-room or the living-room.”
“Or hall. In fact, he merely is careful to keep on his own side of a definitely drawn line, and therefore complies with the restrictions. His den and his own bedroom and bath are all on the south side, while Mrs. Wheeler has a sitting-room, boudoir, and so forth, on the north side. She and Maida can go all over the house, but Mr. Wheeler is restricted. However, they’ve lived that way so long, it has become second nature to them, and nobody bothers much about it.”
“Do people know?” asked Keefe. “The neighbors, I mean.”
“Oh, yes; but, as I say, it makes little confusion. The trouble comes, as Miss Lane suggested, when Wheeler wants to go to Boston or anywhere in Massachusetts.”
“Yet that is a small thing, compared with his freedom,” observed Keefe; “I think he got off easy.”
“But with Wheeler it isn’t so much the deprivation as the stigma. He longs for a full pardon, and would do most anything to have it, but he refuses to stand for Sam’s election, even with that for a bribe.”
“You can’t pardon him now that you aren’t governor, can you, Mr. Appleby?” asked Genevieve.
“I can arrange to have it done. In fact, the present governor is ready and even anxious to pardon him, but I hold the key to that situation, myself. You two needn’t know all the details, but now you know the principal points, and I expect you to utilize them.”
“I’m willing enough,” and Genevieve rocked back and forth thoughtfully, “and I may think of a way—but, for the moment, I don’t.”