"Naturally not," McDermott answered, succinctly; "but it is not proven yet," he added, in an impartial tone, adding, "I have not been able to find the witness I need."
Was it Katrine's imagination that made her think the door moved suddenly as by human agency? Had some of the servants been listening? She paused in her talk, and, looking into the hall, saw Quantrelle the Red pass quickly up the stairs with his daily flower for Madame de Nemours.
"And, believing that Ravenel did not belong to Mr. Ravenel," she continued, "you encouraged him to build the railroad?"
"I neither encouraged nor discouraged that enterprise," Dermott answered. "Fate steered, and did it well."
"And Mrs. Ravenel?" The name, as she spoke it, was a remonstrance.
"Mademoiselle Dulany," Dermott answered, "indeed you've a wrong conception of the matter. There is to be no stage play or newspaper work in the case. It will be quietly adjusted. The Ravenels are not people to permit any publicity. There will be compromises. Mrs. Ra
venel, I hope, need never know the facts in the case. There is none need ever know, save Frank."
"You have never liked him, have you, Dermott?" Katrine asked, with directness.
"Never," Dermott answered, with a frankness matching her own.
"Why?"