"The devil! What is she doing here?"
"She is engaged as house-maid, but there is some mystery about it that I cannot fathom."
"As sure as you live that old idiot, Godfrey Cuyler, sent her here for a purpose. If you are smart, my girl, you will get rid of her without loss of time."
"But how am I to do that?"
"I think I can manage it for you. It is an infernally dangerous thing, and what is dangerous for you is for me. I'll think about it and write to you to-morrow. Go and get the money now."
"You promise me that you will keep your word about the two hundred in future?"
"Yes, I do. I don't want to be hard on you. You had better be in a hurry. It is not safe for me to be in this house."
Knowing that it was worse than useless to argue the matter with him, and also knowing that he was perfectly right about his own and her insecurity, she heaved a sigh and turned away.
In the darkness her skirts touched Leonie's in passing, but she was unconscious of it, and flitted silently down the broad stairs, guiding her steps by passing her fingers along the wall.
Leonie followed noiselessly, scarcely daring to draw her breath.