“Then let us hasten away. Who is the lady—the friend you said had employed you to find me?”
“Have you no suspicion?”
“Not the slightest,” she replied, honestly.
“Did you ever meet a Mrs. Beresford in Maury’s store in New York?”
Floy blushed divinely at the mention of the name of Beresford and exclaimed:
“Yes; I saw her once. She bought real lace handkerchiefs from me, and was so sweet and kind I have loved her memory ever since.”
“She admired you very much,” smiled the detective.
“She told me I was pretty—that she liked to look at me,” confessed Floy, naïvely.
“Yes, that is it; she was charmed with your beauty, Miss Fane, and I applaud her good taste,” said Landon, admiringly; and continued: “Did you know that Mrs. Beresford’s only daughter is a great artist?”
“I had not heard anything about her, sir.”