“Do you really know anything about him, other than what he had told you himself?”
“I can’t say I do,” Mr. Lydecker admitted reluctantly. “But I do not see any reason for doubting——”
“If you had taken the trouble to inquire at the Fall River offices in this city, you would have learned that they do not, and never have, employed private detectives on any of their boats.”
“Nonsense, Mr. Klein!” broke in the other, “I cannot believe that Mr. Jarge would deliberately lie to me. Besides, he has done me a great favor, and I appreciate it.”
“You are allowing your daughter to wear some of her most valuable pieces of jewelry to-night, are you not, Mr. Lydecker?” Klein questioned, apparently changing the subject.
“Why, yes, I have allowed her to do so. You see, it is her birthday.”
“And the majority of the women present are doing the same, I believe?”
Mr. Lydecker admitted that such was the truth. “But,” he asked, “what has that to do with Mr. Jarge?”
“It might not have a thing in the world to do with him,” responded Klein; “and again, it might.”
They were interrupted at that moment, and the conversation was dropped.