Part 52 (1/2)
”Hus.h.!.+”
”No, I won't hush. I know what I am talking about. She was a devil and I owe her a grudge yet, and mean some day to pay it back, good and strong.”
”How did she offend you?”
”Some day I may tell you.”
”Why not now?”
”I ain't quite ready.”
”Will you tell me where you knew her first?”
”I knew her first when she was a baby, and I knew her father, too.”
Scott was puzzled. He looked steadily at Meg as she continued:
”Yes, and I knew her mother, too.”
”Who was her mother?”
”Oh, a rich, proud man like you would blush to know your mother-in-law.”
”Meg,” said Scott, ”I do not believe you know anything about my wife.”
”Oh, yes, I do, and some day I can convince you. Do you remember of a letter that an old woman gave you, one day, when you was leaving your office?”
”Yes, but it was not you.”
”Never mind.”
”Can you tell what the letter contained?”
”Yes, your fortune.”
”That was only a piece of nonsense.”
”Don't you see I know.”
”Tell me how you know.”
”Perhaps I won't; unless you pay me well for it.”
”That I have promised to do if you give me the required information.”
”Come one week from to-day and I will tell you the whole story. I can't to-day,” she said, looking at Crisp.
Scott returned to his office, where he found a letter from Paul. He read the contents with seeming satisfaction.