“That’s all.”
Nick arose and was watched by the man with a look like that of a tiger.
Perry Lamont seemed to bite his lips through and his eyes emitted sparks of rage.
As the detective stepped toward the door it opened and a tall and distinguished-looking young lady entered the room.
“My daughter,” said the millionaire, with a wave of his hand toward the young lady, but she did not seem to hear the words.
Already she had turned upon Carter and her hands were clenched till the nails seemed to cut the fair flesh to the palms.
“You want to disgrace us all!” she cried, as she appeared to increase an inch in stature. “You are one of those blackmailers with whom honest and wealthy people must be bothered. You want to make us trouble. But you shall not! Father shall not pay you one dollar to keep the false secret you think you have discovered. Attempt to carry out your plans and your life will not be worth the snuffing of a candle.”
Carter was astounded at these words, and he could not take his eyes from the flushed face of the girl who was really beautiful and vixenish.
“Be calm, miss,” said he. “I don’t intend to disgrace your family name. The truth never hurt anybody. I am a detective on the trail, and if that trail leads to your house, why, you should not find fault, for the dogs of justice seldom miss the scent.”
“But you just said the old creature murdered in her hovel a few nights ago was my father’s sister.”