“Where is Daisy Banks, mother?” said Richard, hoarsely, as soon as they were alone. “I’ve kept up this foolery of searching all day, to quiet these people, and now I insist upon knowing where she is.”
“I should ask you that,” said Mrs Glaire, angrily; “but if I did I should not learn the truth. Where have you taken her?”
“Taken her?” said Richard, savagely. “Where should I take her? You know I was at home all last night.”
“Where you had planned to take her,” said Mrs Glaire, coldly.
“I planned!” cried Richard. “Why, I left her with you. Plans, indeed!”
“Daisy Banks was not with me ten minutes,” said Mrs Glaire, quietly. “I said plans, because—”
“Because what?” cried Richard. “Do you wish me to tell you?”
“Yes, if you have anything to tell.”
“Because you paid that chattering ass, Slee, to carry letters to and fro, between you and Daisy, after you had given me your word of honour that you would see her no more. Because you then, after gradually bringing the silly girl over to your purposes, paid or bribed, which you will, Simeon Slee, the man who has been one of the projectors of this wretched strike, to act as your pander to take this girl off to London, to await your coming. It is your doing; so now you had better seek her.”
“How did you know all this?”