“I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Black.”
“You don’t?”
“Surely not. You are talking Greek to me,” Kate declared. “I never heard of any Needy Nine.”
“Nor of a man named Ralph Redlaw?”
“No, never.”
“Well, well, I must be mistaken, then.”
“You certainly are, sir, if you think I know anything about such persons. I am all in the dark as to your meaning.”
“Possibly, Miss Crandall.”
“Randall, sir.”
“I said Crandall—and that is your name,” Nick insisted. “Furthermore, since I am not inclined to mince matters, I will inform you that my name is not Henderson Black. You will readily remember it, I think, if I remove these slight adornments.”