“And the person didn’t know you were there, and you made no sign?”
“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 nobody’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 sex, 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!”