"'Her natural guardian!'" she repeated indignantly. "Her natural guardian is a natural born fool, as I've often told him to his face! But it appears to me that you have learned more about this affair than I meant you to. Just what do you know?"
"That you returned from Europe to find your only brother in a sanitarium, his home closed and his daughter missing. You interviewed him, but he would give you no satisfaction, and knowing something of the independent character of the young lady——"
"Independent!" Madame Dumois drew a deep breath. "She defied me when she was three years old! The only member of the family who dared to stand up to me!"
"Knowing that she possessed the courage of her convictions," Ross continued, "you made up your mind to find out for yourself where she was and what she was doing."
"What she was up to!" The old lady corrected him grimly. "Never since she was born have I known what she was going to do next!"
"I have seen your brother, Mr. Westcote, and I am happy to be able to tell you that his health is much improved."
"I gathered that from his letter—" A flash of her old humor crossed her face. "He called me a meddlesome busybody, and that is more spirit than he has shown in years! I don't know how you have found out all this, but I cannot say that I am sorry. I did not care to put myself or my family affairs at the mercy of a detective agency, that was the reason why I would not tell you my motive in seeking her, yet I trust and like you, Mr. Ross."
"Thank you," he responded gravely.
"Now, if you will only find this perverse, incorrigible, young woman for me—"
"What if I have?" his eyes danced. "I did not say that I had failed, Madame Dumois."