‘Say seven thousand words? I could do it by to-morrow morning,’ said Miss Martin.
‘You know you must be very careful?’
‘Style of answers to correspondents in The Young Girl,’ said Miss Martin. ‘I know my way about.’
‘Then you really will essay the adventure?’
‘Like a bird,’ answered the lady. ‘It will be great fun. I shall pick up copy about the habits of the middle classes in the Midlands.’
‘They won’t recognise you as the author of your more criminal romances?’
‘How can they? I sign them “Passion Flower” and “Nightshade,” and “La Tofana,” and so on.’
‘You will dress as in your photograph in The Young Girl?’
‘I will, and take a fichu to wear in the evening. They always wear fichus in evening dress. But, look here, do you want a happy ending to this romance?’
‘How can it be happy if you are to be successful? Miss Jane Truman will be miserable, and Mr. James Warren will die of remorse and a broken heart, when you—’