Part 17 (1/2)
”Where shall we go?” he asked.
”We will go to some prominent restaurant.”
”But, madam, I have not seen your face.”
”There is no reason why I should not remove my veil. I will do so when we are seated at a table. Let me tell you my experience is a very strange one. I have a very extraordinary story to relate. I know you will become interested; I know you will decide to serve me if you will only let me narrate my startling experience.”
”You shall certainly have an opportunity to relate your experience, madam.”
”Miss Lamb told me I could rely upon your generosity, but let me tell you I do not expect that you will serve me simply in a spirit of chivalry. If you can extricate me from my very singular entanglement I will be in a position to reward you in the most munificent manner, but it will require brains, courage and coolness to release me.”
”Madam, I will not claim any of these qualities in advance, but I will accompany you and listen to your strange tale. I am interested in odd experiences; it is my infirmity.”
”I have been informed that you have no infirmities; that you are a bold, resolute, keen, level-headed gentleman.”
Our hero smiled and said:
”Shall I select the place where we shall go?”
”If you please.”
”You do not seek privacy?”
”Only so far as I can relate my story and be heard by you alone, and let me tell you I may do you a great service while you are serving me.”
”That will be splendid,” said Oscar.
He walked with the veiled woman to a well-known restaurant. He led her to a table in a remote corner, and the moment they were seated she removed her veil and disclosed a very beautiful face. She was evidently an American woman, and our hero had detected a Yankee p.r.o.nunciation, but he was thoughtful enough to know that the down east idiom might be a.s.sumed. We will here say that his suspicions of the woman had not relaxed, but when he beheld her fair, beautiful face his suspicion was just a little staggered.
As indicated, Oscar had not dismissed his suspicions entirely, and he waited wonderingly for the woman to open up her business.
”You have never beheld my face before?” she said.
”Never.”
”It may seem bold for a positive stranger to ask a favor, but as I said this is a matter which requires very delicate manipulation. I cannot trust every one, not even among the corps of detectives.”
”And yet you feel that you can trust me?”
”Yes.”
”Why?”
”I believe that combined with shrewdness, courage and cunning you possess a sympathetic nature.”
”You are very complimentary.”
”My informant was Miss Lamb.”
”Miss Lamb has evidently spoken very kindly of me.”