“No. I never met her. Why did you suppose I might have done so?�
“I did not suppose it. I asked only to know if you had made her acquaintance at any time in the past.�
“No; never heard of her until I saw her name in the papers, about the murder case.�
“She intends to marry you,� said Nick quietly.
“What! Say! What are you giving me? A joke?�
“It sounds like one, doesn’t it? Nevertheless, at my house last evening, she assured me that as soon as you had established your identity and had possessed yourself of the Lynne millions, she intended to marry you and to possess herself of them.�
“Well, I’ll be—blessed!â€�
“Damned would be a more appropriate word if such a thing should happen. She boasted to me of her intention. I thought it best to tell you about her. Did you come directly——â€�
“Wait a moment. The woman is said to be very beautiful, isn’t she?�
“Yes; she has that reputation.�