It was plainly to be seen, however, that Mercedes did not like the situation at all. She had shown no outward feeling about it at all at first, but as time went on and finally lengthened into a week, she became restless under the conditions, and, at last, on the day which completed the week’s stay for the detective, she found an opportunity to send her mother out on a solitary drive in the victoria, and then, when she was sure that there would be no interruptions, she called Nick into the library.
“Don’t you think, Mr. Carter, that this has gone far enough?” she asked, somewhat coldly.
“That what has gone far enough?” replied Nick.
“This masquerade.”
“No; to be perfectly truthful, I do not.”
“It is becoming intolerable to me.”
“Why?”
“Do you think I can explain to you why? In fact, need I explain to you, why? Don’t you know why as well as I do.”
“I think I can understand how you feel about it—yes.”