“Any idea what he’s after — with your aunt?”
“I think he’s selling her something.”
“You told Bertha Cool you were afraid he was selling her stock.”
“You seem to have the right answer,” she said.
“You wouldn’t mind if he nicked her for a little money on a stock transaction?”
She said, “Mr. Lam, if that man could be given an opportunity to swindle Aunt Amelia out of twenty or thirty thousand dollars, I… I’d almost tell him all I knew about Auntie’s psychology so he could go ahead. What I’m afraid of is that’s what he started to do and now I’m afraid he’s trying to sell her merchandise that’s going to cost her more and will be a lot less valuable to her.”
“You mean he’s trying to sell himself?”
“Yes.”
“Would your aunt re-marry?”
“I think so, under proper circumstances. She’s — well, she’s carried this business of being flattered to a point where it’s making her sort of — well, I hate to say it, but—”