“I was not at the door an hour ago,” replied the woman, coolly; “it must have been some one else. I have been here––to Whitestone Hall––several times before, but you have always eluded me. You shall not do so to-night. You shall listen to what I have come to say to you.”
For once in her life the haughty, willful heiress was completely taken aback, and she sunk into the arm-chair so lately occupied by Basil Hurlhurst.
“I shall ring for the servants, and have you thrown from the house; such impudence is unheard of, you miserable creature!”
She made a movement toward the bell-rope, but the woman hastily thrust her back into her seat, crossed over, turned the key in the lock, and hastily removed it. Basil Hurlhurst and John Brooks were about to rush to her assistance, but the detective suddenly thrust them back, holding up his hand warningly.
“Not yet,” he whispered; “we will wait until we know what this strange affair means. I shall request you both to remain perfectly quiet until by word or signal I advise you to act differently.”
And, breathless with interest, the three, divided only by the silken hanging curtains, awaited eagerly further developments of the strange scene being enacted before them.
Pluma’s eyes flashed like ebony fires, and unrestrained passion was written on every feature of her face, as the woman took her position directly in front of her with folded arms, and dark eyes gleaming quite as strangely as her own. Pluma, through sheer astonishment at her peculiar, deliberate manner, was hushed into strange expectancy.
For some moments the woman gazed into her face, coolly––deliberately––her eyes fastening themselves on the diamond necklace which clasped her throat, quivering with a thousand gleaming lights.
“You are well cared for,” she said, with a harsh, grating laugh, that vibrated strangely on the girl’s ear. “You have the good things of life, while I have only the hardships. I am a fool to endure it. I have come to you to-night to help me––and you must do it.”
“Put the key in that door instantly, or I shall cry out for assistance. I have heard of insolence of beggars, but certainly this is beyond all imagination. How dare you force your obnoxious 189 presence upon me? I will not listen to another word; you shall suffer for this outrage, woman! Open the door instantly, I say.”