"Good God!"
"It appears that Mr. Smith suspects—ME!" said she coolly.
Her father-in-law's lips moved, but no sound issued. His face was livid.
"The stupid fool!" hissed the irate Mr. Carroll.
There was deathly silence for a moment following this outburst. Every face was pale. In Hetty's there was an expression of utter horror. Her lips too were moving.
"He has, it seems, put one thing and another together, as if it were a picture puzzle," went on Sara. "His visit to Mr. Carroll this morning was for the purpose of ascertaining how much it would be worth to me if he dropped the case—NOW."
"The infernal blackmailer!" gasped Mr. Wrandall, finding his voice. "I will have him kicked off the place if he comes to me with—My dear, my dear! You cannot mean what you say."
He was in a shocking state of bewilderment.
"I'd advise you to call off your infernal blackmailer, Mr. Redmond Wrandall," snarled Mr. Carroll, pacing back and forth.
"My dear sir," stammered the other, "I—I—do you mean to imply that I know anything about this infamous business?"