"It's so nice of you to say that."
"What's more natural? You know I've always loved you next to Nan."
She spoke with such fervour that Stuart shivered. It was sinister. She evidently felt sure of his ruin. He was too much dazed to find a reply, and she went on earnestly:
"We needed you here so much to help us fix up. We've had the good luck to rent our second floor to a young millionaire——"
"Mr. Bivens, yes——"
"Why, how did you know?" she asked with a start.
"Dr. Woodman has just received an important letter from him dated here, and he asked my advice about it."
"Oh——"
"Where's Nan?" Stuart asked, with sudden anger in spite of his effort to keep cool.
"Why, she's giving a little box party at the theatre to-night——"