“Oh, you did it because I told Flood about Kendall’s shortage, did you?”
“Precisely.”
“Well, I rather suspected it was that, Mr. Carter.”
“Why, then, did you ask?”
“Only to make sure, sir,” laughed Belle. “A woman’s usual reason, eh? Ah, well! have no fear, Mr. Carter; I bear you no ill will for having done so. Really, I rather like you for it, for it’s awfully pleasant to be out of a job,” and the smiling jade playfully beat Nick’s arm with one of her gloves.
Then she quickly added pointedly:
“But I’ve got it in for Mr. Flood, sir, just the same.”
“That so?” queried Nick. “For what?”
“Because he betrayed that I told you. Oh, you wouldn’t deny it, Mr. Carter. I know well enough that he did!”
“I never attempt to disabuse a woman who already knows,” laughed Nick, wondering when she would come to the point.