Scott was really in possession of more facts than Meg supposed, but he had no idea of allowing her to know it. He had an object in gaining all the information he could from her, but he was very careful to withhold the knowledge which he possessed. It was quite evident that Meg had not heard of Irene’s death, and Scott resolved to keep the knowledge from her until he had heard her story.
“Tell me what you know of her,” he said.
“I knew her years ago.”
“How could you know her?”
“That’s the mystery.”
“But you claim to be a gypsy.”
“So I am, but I knew Irene Mapleton years ago. You can’t guess, if you are the smartest lawyer in all the land, where I found her. Oh, you thought you was marrying a lady, but you was only getting a—devil.”
“Hush!”
“No, I won’t hush. I know what I am talking about. 265 She was a devil and I owe her a grudge yet, and mean some day to pay it back, good and strong.”
“How did she offend you?”