“Madam,� he said, “you may assume whatever pleases you best in that regard, but the truth is that to-night is the first time in ten days that I have seen your face, or heard the sound of your voice.�
She lifted her chin, looked boldly into the detective’s eyes, and laughed softly.
“That counts for nothing,� she said. “I know you too well to take that statement for what you wished me to understand by it. You have a fashion of seeing with other eyes than your own, and of hearing with other ears than your own. The fact that you have neither seen nor heard me does not mean that you do not know of every move I have made, and have not been told of every word I have uttered during those ten days.�
“I perceive, madam, that you understand something about the detective business,� he replied, and attempted to pass on; but again she barred the way.
“I suppose you saw me in the Lynne box, from some other part of the house—no?â€� she said, tentatively.
“No, madam, I did not see you in the Lynne box from any other part of the house,� he replied.
“Then you were told that I was there.�
“I was not told that you were there, Mrs. Babbington. May I ask if you have occupied it all the evening?�
She looked into his eyes mockingly; then she laughed softly again, as if to herself, and about something that amused her greatly.
“No,â€� she said, replying directly to his question; “I have not occupied it all the evening. I am with some friends from the West who are farther along the tier. They—er—are long-time acquaintances of Mr. Lynne, and when we discovered that he was here, and alone, I induced them to send for him. He came, and we were presented. I thought, perhaps, you would be interested to hear about it.â€�