“You mustn’t be so thin-skinned. You pay the penalty of belonging to one of the wealthiest families in America,” and Billings’s tone was paternal.
“So I’ve heard, but I’m not so terribly proud of it. What about this governor?”
“That’s what troubles me—what of the governor?” Billings dropped his voice so that no one but Ardmore could hear. “He’s missing—disappeared.”
“That’s the first interesting thing I ever heard of a governor doing,” said Ardmore. “Tell me more.”
“He’s had a row with the Governor of South Carolina, at New Orleans. I was to have met him here on an important matter of business this afternoon, but he’s cleared out and nobody knows what’s become of him. His daughter even, who was in New Orleans with him, doesn’t know where he is.”
“When was she in New Orleans with him?” asked Ardmore, looking at his watch.
“She—who?” asked Billings, annoyed.
“Why, the daughter!”
“I don’t know anything about the daughter, but if I could find her father I’d give him a piece of my mind,” and the secretary’s face flushed angrily.
“Well, I suppose she isn’t the one I’m looking for, anyhow,” said Ardmore resignedly.