"Are you prepared to answer my question?" she asked calmly.
"I am," he replied. "You shall have ample time to say anything that you wish. Will you proceed at once?"
"By doing that you will lose everything," gasped Miss Chandler.
The smile on Leonie's face only deepened.
"You must remember that there is honor among thieves, Mr. Luis Kingsley," she began, "and the promise that you shall make me before you hear my secret must be kept to the letter. Do you agree?"
"I agree to abide by whatever promise I make. You may be sure of that. But the question is, whether I shall make the promise or not."
"I think you will. It can make no possible difference to you who I am, nor how I came by my information, but I have come into possession of a secret of yours which I am willing to sell for my liberty. I will tell you in the first place that the reason why I do not wish you to search me is that I am not the boy that you suppose, but a woman."
"This is growing interesting. Go on!"
"Well, sir, several years ago you had an uncle of great wealth."