“I don't know anything just now, sir,” answered the woman, with a chill in her tones. She closed her lips tightly, and shrunk back in her chair.
“What, then, are your here for?” asked Mr. Dinneford, showing considerable sternness of manner.
“I thought you understood,” returned the woman. “I was explicit in my statement.”
“Oh, I begin to see. There is a price on your information,” said Mr. Dinneford.
“Yes, sir. You might have known that from the first. I will be frank with you.”
“But why have you kept this secret for three years? Why did you not come before?” asked Mr. Dinneford.
“Because I was paid to keep the secret. Do you understand?”
Too well did Mr. Dinneford understand, and it was with difficulty he could suppress a groan as his head drooped forward and his eyes fell to the floor.
“It does not pay to keep it any longer,” added the woman.
Mr. Dinneford made no response.