"Dear Mrs. Hilliston, I could not disobey a lady. Besides—besides——"
"Besides you are in love with her. Oh, I can see that! Well, she is a pretty girl. So you intend to marry her?"
"It is early yet to talk of marriage. I don't even know if she likes me."
Mrs. Hilliston laughed, and looked at him smilingly. "Then you must be very ignorant of the way of women, my dear," she said meaningly. "A word in your ear, Claude. That girl loves you."
"In two weeks! Impossible!"
"I've known love to grow in two days," replied Mrs. Hilliston dryly. "Oh, yes, she loves you, and you love her, so you can marry as soon as you choose."
"First I must get Mr. Paynton's consent."
"I should not think that would be difficult," said the lady, looking at his eager face. "You are young, not ill-looking, not badly off, and so I should not think Mr. Paynton would desire anything better for his daughter. So much for the first obstacle, and the second?"
"I must solve the mystery of my father's death."
Mrs. Hilliston's manner changed on the instant, and from being gay she became severe and anxious-looking. Indeed, Claude thought that she paled under her rouge; but this might have been fancy.