The moment his eyes fell upon the face of the woman before him a conviction forced itself upon him that he had seen her before.
Then came the more forcible conviction that it was a striking resemblance and not a recollection of features.
Her face had almost a counterpart in a younger, smaller countenance on which he had recently looked.
It was a twin picture to the portrait of the child in the back of Redway’s watch—was the face of the woman before him.
Instantly Nick knew that he was in the presence of Redway’s mysterious visitor of the afternoon.
What good luck had sent her to him?
“You have been waiting to see me?” said Nick, inquiringly.[{46}]
“If you are the detective, Nick Carter, I have,” was her reply, as she looked intently into his face.
“Well, I am Nick Carter, at your service.”
“I have heard of your great professional skill, sir, and have come to seek your help in a case that to me has recently become more than a matter of life and death. I am rich, and can pay you well for your services.”