"Did she strike you as queer because she'd perhaps read some of it?"
"Well, I understand it was private——"
"You mean she must have read some of it to find that out?"
"I suppose so."
Again Louie had that curious crawling of her flesh. She hesitated for a moment; then, slowly:
"What sort of terms are you on with Mrs. Jeffries, Billy?"
Billy stared. "Oh, quite all right—I don't understand——"
"Have you any influence over her?"
Louie hesitated again. After all, it might be only a fear. She went on. "Say influence enough to advise her about reading that journal, or novel, or whatever it is?"