“And I say, I don’t know,” Lane replied. “But there are lots of things the modern young woman wants money for——”
“Yes, but if they’re right and proper things, why won’t she tell what they are? No matter if they’re extravagances or foolish luxuries, why not say so? But if the destination of that twenty thousand can’t be told—it’s clear there’s something wrong about it.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning nothing but that. Something wrong—something shady—something that must be covered up. Therefore, she had to have the money at once. Therefore, she went to Robert Gleason for it. Therefore, he told her he would give it to her on one condition—marriage.”
“Hold on, Prescott, do you know this?” Lane demanded.
Prescott jerked a finger toward Millicent Lindsay.
“She knows it,” he said. “She knows that for weeks Miss Lindsay had kept Gleason dangling—waiting for her answer. Then, when the young lady discovers she can get the money by the man’s death—and as she really abhors him and doesn’t want to marry him—and as the opportunity offers——”
“What opportunity?”
“The fact that she’s there alone with him in his rooms, his pistol conveniently at hand, and nobody about——”
“Oh, you’re romancing! That girl! She couldn’t do it!”