“But you feel sure of it?”
“Surest thing you know,” said Nancy confidently. “I’d stake my bundle on it, Mr. Carter, and you know what that means, knowing what I was. Any man I knew in the past was most likely a crook.”
Nick did not contradict her.
“Besides, he knew me, sir, the first time. I let him in here,” Nancy went on. “I was wise to that, all right, but it wasn’t for me to meddle with the master’s affairs. So I kept my trap closed.”
“Why did you think Floyd recognized you?”
“I saw his lamps light up the instant they lit on me,” Nancy explained, in characteristic terms. “He looked at me like he saw a ghost.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“No, not a word, Mr. Carter. But no man with eyes like his is on the level. I know what I’m saying. It’s like breaking sticks for me to pick out a crook from a bunch of men. Floyd is one, Mr. Carter, if ever there was one, and that’s why I got the mistress to send for you. I don’t forget what you did in that Maybrick case—and what you did for me, sir, never!”
“I’m quite sure of it, Nancy,” Nick replied. “You can tell me no more about the two men, I infer.”
“No, sir.”