Part 39 (2/2)
”Yes,” eagerly. ”Yes, that's the way it was; I thought I'd find out something----”
”And did you?”
But that time Zizi's eagerness proved her undoing.
For some reason or other Molly took alarm and shut up like a clam.
”No,” she averred. ”I couldn't see who it was, and as I peeked out, the--person ran away.”
Zizi knew from the sly and obstinate look in her eyes that Molly was lying and that she intended to stick to it. She was n.o.body's fool, this Molly, and though Zizi was sure that she would yet sell her secret to the highest bidder, it was not altogether wise to begin the bidding at once. Also, Zizi felt certain that what the girl knew was of serious importance and it was imperative that Pennington Wise should learn the truth. But Zizi's ways were devious and she chose now to treat the matter lightly.
”Molly, you're a fraud,” she said, laughingly; ”you've built up a person of mysterious appearance and unknown s.e.x, but I can't fall for your plan. I don't blame you for wanting to make a little easy money,--who doesn't? But you didn't pick a winner when you selected _me_ to try it on! Go to somebody else with your wares. Try Mr Bates or Miss Prall.”
The girl's face fell and Zizi smiled in satisfaction. But Molly grew belligerent and exclaimed, ”Oh, very well, miss, but you'll be sorry. I _will_ go to some one else with my story, but it will be to----”
”I know! To the person herself! Well, go on, if you can get to her undiscovered!”
”I can! With no trouble at all!”
”Not forgetting the danger you run of being arrested?”
”Danger! Pooh! You can't scare me that way? Beside, you'll never know----”
”Who the person is? I know already. Kate Holland!”
This was a mere guess on Zizi's part, and she said it to learn from Molly's expression how near right it might be.
To her surprise, Molly looked mystified.
”Kate Holland!” she whispered. ”You--you don't suspect her, do you?”
”Do you?” Zizi shot back.
”Yes, I do,--or I did, until----”
”Until you saw the person?”
”Yes, that's it.”
Zizi was about to insist on the name of the person when there was a tap at the door, and the head chambermaid insisted on having the services of Molly at once. The girl went away and Zizi went straight to tell Penny Wise all about it.
She tried the door of Wise's rooms and as the k.n.o.b turned she walked in.
But to her surprise the man sitting at the table in the sitting-room, and reading the newspaper, was not Wise but Mr Vail.
”Good afternoon,” he said, a little blankly, as he rose.
”How do you do?” Zizi returned, with one of her attractive smiles. ”I'm Mr Wise's a.s.sistant. Can I do anything for you?”
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