She gave him a bright smile as she said this, and then added:
“Mr. Barnes has told me about you!”
“Has he?”
“Yes.”
“Did he paint me very black?”
“On the contrary, he painted you in glowing colors, as a man of great ability.”
“Did he?”
“Yes. And he said that you were a detective come here to try and solve the mystery surrounding the death or disappearance of Mr. Field—my father. It comes very hard,” in an apologetic tone, “to think of him as being such.”
“Yes, I am here for that purpose.”
“I hope you will find the murderers; from the bottom of my heart I hope so.”