“‘Simply say that I will.’”

“What else?”

“Not a word, miss.”

“Who is she?”

“One of the handsomest ladies I ever saw.”

“A lady?” said Nina, with a sneer.

“Yes, indeed, Miss De Sutro, one of the noblest of her sex if only half that is said of her goodness is true.”

“Yet she is the keeper of a border hotel and gambling-den?”

“True, miss, yet she’s a lady for all that.”

“Where was she going?”