“Well, well, so I am, and I hope you’ll excuse me,” laughed Nick, in a way to further reassure her. “I felt so moved by your grief that I really forgot to be conventional. Here is my card, Miss Royal. Perhaps you know me by name.”
“Are—are you the famous detective?” faltered Dora, with glistening eyes, raised from the card to seek his.
Nick laughed again, and his smile proved to be contagious this time, for the drawn lips of the girl began to relax a little.
“I am Nick Carter, the detective,” he replied. “How great I am I leave others to say. I certainly should feel that I had done something worthy, Miss Royal, were I to succeed in restoring all you now feel to be lost to you. Who knows but I may, eh?”
“Oh, Detective Carter, do you think so?”
“Possibly.”
“But how? If——”
“Nay, let’s get at this in proper order, that there may be no misunderstanding,” interposed Nick, smiling. “First, let me know that you desire me for a friend, and that you feel you can trust me.”
“Indeed I do, sir. Your name alone is sufficient.”
“Will you rely blindly upon my judgment, and consent to follow my advice?”