“Can you tell me anything about Rene’s father?” Scott asked.
“What do you know of her father?”
“I asked you a question.”
Meg looked at Scott with fierce and searching eyes, 304 but she quailed before the far more searching gaze of Scott.
“Who told you of my secrets?” Meg asked.
“That does not matter. I asked you to tell me what you of your own free will promised.”
“Well,” said Meg, knocking the ashes from her pipe, “I am in need of money, but I don’t sell my wisdom for nothing.”
“Meg,” said Scott, in a commanding tone, “I never fail to do as I promise. I have told you that you would be well paid for whatever information you may possess, and I wish you to name a time when you will be ready to impart it to me as you have promised to do. Do you know anything of a certain portion of a mining country in California, owned by Rene’s father?”
Meg started, and said:
“So you are after more news, are you?”