Her piquante manner, and her utter disregard of all conventionality, amused him. True, she was older than Maud but most possibly her bosom friend. If so, Maud was probably in hiding in Paris, and this pretty girl had been sent to him as Cupid’s messenger.
“I wanted to see you on a matter which closely concerns Mr Statham.”
“Anything that concerns Mr Statham concerns myself, Miss Lorena,” he said. “I am his confidential secretary.”
“I have ascertained that, otherwise I would not have dared to speak to you. I want to warn you.”
“Of what?”
“Of a deeply-laid conspiracy to wreck Mr Statham’s life,” she said. “There have arisen recently two men who are now determined to lay bare the secret of the millionaire’s past, in revenge for some old grievance, real or fancied.”
“For the purposes of blackmail—eh?” he asked. “Every rich man is constantly being subjected to attempted blackmail in some form or other.”
“No. They have no desire to obtain money. Their sole intention is to expose Mr Statham.”
“Most men who are unsuccessful are eager to denounce the methods of their more fortunate friends,” he said, smiling. “Mr Statham has no fear of exposure, I assure you.” The girl looked him straight in the face with a long, steady gaze.
“Ah! I see?” she exclaimed, after a pause. “You treat me as an enemy, Mr Rolfe; not as a friend.”