“Miss Granard, tell me! you are poor, eh?—a paid companion to your rich friend, what?”
Still thinking of Lady Molly’s commands, I replied with a pathetic sigh.
“Then,” said the old lady, eagerly, “would you like to earn fifty thousand francs?”
The eagerness with which I responded “Rather!” apparently pleased her, for she gave a sigh of satisfaction.
“You know the story of my sister’s will—of the clock?” she asked eagerly: “of your friend’s rôle in this shameless business?”
Once more I nodded. I knew that my lady had guessed rightly. This was the Marquise de Terhoven, planted here in the convent to gain my confidence, to spy on Lady Molly, and to offer me a bribe.
Now for some clever tactics on my part.
“Can you prevent your friend from being at the château to-morrow before one o’clock?” asked the Marquise.
“Easily,” I replied calmly.
“How?”