He walked with the veiled woman to a well-known restaurant. He led her
to a table in a remote corner, and the moment they were seated she
removed her veil and disclosed a very beautiful face. She was evidently
an American woman, and our hero had detected a Yankee pronunciation, but
he was thoughtful enough to know that the down east idiom might be
assumed. We will here say that his suspicions of the woman had not
relaxed, but when he beheld her fair, beautiful face his suspicion was
just a little staggered.
As indicated, Oscar had not dismissed his suspicions entirely, and he
waited wonderingly for the woman to open up her business.
"You have never beheld my face before?" she said.
"Never."
"It may seem bold for a positive stranger to ask a favor, but as I said
this is a matter which requires very delicate manipulation. I cannot
trust every one, not even among the corps of detectives."
"And yet you feel that you can trust me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I believe that combined with shrewdness, courage and cunning you
possess a sympathetic nature."
"You are very complimentary."
"My informant was Miss Lamb."
"Miss Lamb has evidently spoken very kindly of me."
"Yes, she thinks you are a fine type of honorable manhood."
"Miss, please do not compliment me any further through your acquaintance
with Miss Lamb.
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