The nabob started.
"I have no picture of her save the one I carry in my memory. I haven't seen her since a fatal night at Monaco."
He laid the picture down and looked squarely at the detective.
"No more now. Will you accept?"
It was a novel and romantic engagement and appealed strongly to the detective's curiosity.
He thought rapidly for ten seconds, after which he looked into Custer Kipp's eyes and said:
"I accept."
"A thousand thanks! I feel younger already—I feel that I will yet escape this vendetta, that I have years of useful life ahead and that I will die in my house when my time comes. But one word. Not a whisper of this bargain beyond the walls of my house. Not a word to my children, for I call Nora my child the same as Foster. It must be our secret, Mr. Broadbrim."
"It shall be ours."
"That's right. Now, sir, if you will come back to-morrow I will give you the commission in detail. I will study up all the points you should know, and then you will see into your task and will know just what you will be expected to do."