"How do you do, Mr. Herries?" she said in excellent English. "You are surprised to meet me here, instead of your father-in-law."
"What, you know----?"
"I know that Mr. Gowrie wrote you a letter asking you to come to this place," said Señora Guzman composedly.
"Then you know where he is?"
"I do."
"Can you tell me----?"
"Not at present," she interrupted, "but later you shall know everything, Mr. Herries."
"About the murder?" he asked looking at her in a penetrating manner, and trying to read her thoughts.
"Certainly. The time is coming, when all that is mysterious will be made plain to you. But," added Donna Maria with emphasis, "you will have to pay for your knowledge."
"Ah!" Herries was quite cool, "I thought the element of money would come into the matter. And how much?"