Flomerfelt's gaze took in the lady of the flowered-silk kimona from the sole of her foot to the top of her head.
"Um—such trust companies as the Interstate and Tri-State." He paused a moment, and then added: "With such a man as Giles Ilingsworth handling the reins——"
"Giles Ilingsworth!" she broke in. "Who is Giles Ilingsworth? Why, I never heard of him."
Flomerfelt looked at her in well-feigned astonishment.
"You never heard of Giles Ilingsworth! He was the power behind the throne—the man who wrecked the companies—who did more, who wrecked Peter V. Wilkinson." He made a movement to go. "There is nothing further I can do for you, I suppose, Mrs. Peter V.——?"
For the briefest of moments the lady gazed at him in silent contemplation. Then motioning him again to sit beside her,—which he did,—she drew his head down close to her lips, and patted it affectionately.
"Flomerfelt, you're a good friend of mine?" she said.
Wilkinson's confidential man straightened up.
"That depends on how good a friend you are of mine," he answered, looking her full in the face.
The eyes of Margaret Lane Wilkinson narrowed.