I am psychometrist, dentist, physician, metaphysician all in
one!'
"'I don't understand,' she said looking queer, 'what is the meaning of
all this?'
"'It means,' I said slowly, 'that I have discovered who sent those
anonymous letters to Herbert Delmas!'
"'Anonymous letters! how dare you!' she cried, 'what have anonymous
letters to do with me?'
"'A very great deal, madam,' I replied, 'shall I remind you of their
contents and the occasions on which you wrote them?' I did so. I
recited every word in them and told her the hour, day and
place--namely, when and where each was written, and I summed up by
asking what she would pay me not to tell Delmas.
"For some minutes she was too overcome to say anything; she sat grim
and silent, her pale eyes glaring at me, her freckled fingers toying
with the diamonds. She was baffled and perplexed--she did not know
what course to pursue!
"'Well,' I repeated, 'what have you to say? Do you deny it?'
"She roused herself with an effort. 'No,' she said venomously, 'I
don't deny it. Denial would be useless. How did you find out? Through
one of the maids, I suppose. They were bribed to spy on me!'
"'How I discovered it is of no consequence,' I said, 'but what is of
consequence to you as much as to me--is the payment for hushing it
up!'
"'Payment!' she cried, raising her voice to a positive shriek in her
excitement, 'pay _you_--you nasty, beastly, cadging toad.
Pages:
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117