"We'll see what a man can do," he said and stamped out, back to the library. In a few minutes he called me.
"It's beyond me," he said. "It looks like fright. She seems to like me and the place. I think she'd stay, if she wasn't afraid of her old gang. See if you can reassure her."
"Nina," I asked, "are you in love with Blackie?"
She did not seem to be sure what the term meant.
"He ain't so bad."
"Well, if he were dead," I tried again, "would you stay here with Mr. Benson?"
"Sure," she said. "Sure!"
"You're afraid of Blackie?"
She nodded.
"Well. Cheer up. He can't hurt you here."