“It seems not,” answered Nellie.
They exchanged such a steel-like glance as only those who love each other can inflict, and then Vickers flung out of the house.
When, a few minutes later, Overton caught up with him, his anger had not cooled.
“Hush, hush, my dear fellow,” said the lawyer. “Hilltop is not accustomed to such language. Let a spirited lady have her heroics if she wants.”
Chapter XI
Left alone with her fiancé, perhaps Nellie expected a word of praise for her gallant public demonstration in his favor. If so, she was disappointed.
“Upon my word!” he exclaimed, as the door shut after Vickers. “I never in all my life heard such an audacious impostor. Imagine his daring to pass himself off as Mr. Lee’s son throughout an entire month!”
“He told me within twenty-four hours of his arrival that he was not Bob Lee, and I think he told you, too, James; only you would not believe him.”
Emmons took no notice of this reply, but continued his own train of thought. “When I think that for four weeks you have been practically alone in the house with an escaped murderer—for I don’t believe a word of all this story about false testimony—my blood runs cold. And it is only by the merest chance that we have succeeded in rescuing all your uncle’s property from his hands.”
“I think you are wrong, James. Mr. Vickers never intended to accept my uncle’s property.”