“The insolence of the scoundrel! What do you propose to do, my child?”
“I sent a message yesterday to my old pastor, Dr. Shaw, to come and advise me. I expect him here between eleven and twelve o’clock.”
“That is well, so far as it goes, but I am glad I came.”
“Oh, I am very glad and very grateful!” fervently exclaimed Roma. “But how did this wretch turn up?”
“Heaven knows. Come back from a long cruise, perhaps. He appeared at my office on Monday morning, inquiring for you. He was so insolent that I threatened to throw him out of the window, and should have done so, too, if he had not left.”
“Mr. Merritt, do you know that none of my friends here know the base fraud that was perpetrated against me by this man?”
“I suppose not, my dear. It was not a pleasant piece of news for you to tell, and no one else could have told it.”
“No. But now that Hanson has come to this neighborhood, and dares to come to this house and set up a claim to me, I feel that I must tell my old friend, Dr. Shaw, and get the benefit of his advice on the social side of the case.”
“I think you are right, my dear.”
“And now, Mr. Merritt, can I ask another favor?”