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mind you, you are taking something for granted I have not yet said that I have it."
"We know that you have it that is sure." This was the man.
"If all the things of which you are sure are as valueless as that, you know nothing. I think, if you don't mind, I will leave you. I wish to get news of the person who calls himself Thompson, whom I believe you have poisoned."
"Believe we have poisoned! What does she mean? What does she say?"
How that man did glare; he looked like murder. The woman did not attempt to answer him, she merely smiled and spoke to me.
"Then are we to understand, Miss Forester, that the path of honesty does not appeal to you?"
"Nothing about you does appeal to me. When I first saw you staring at me at Bedford Station I said to myself, 'That's a dangerous woman.' When you talk about paying, I will make you an offer. Miss Lawrence tells me that you gave her a hundred dollars to let you have a berth in my cabin. I will give you two hundred dollars to change back again."
"Is that your answer to my question?"
"Is that your answer to mine? What you have done can only point to one thing danger! for me. You wish to have me at your mercy you and your friends. You say that what you have been talking about is not Mr. Stewart's."
"How can it be his when you know how it came into his possession?"
This was the man; he shook his hand at me as if it were a clenched fist. There could be no doubt about his rage, yet I was more afraid of the woman's calmness. I laughed at him.
"At the beginning of this agreeable little conversation you talked of handing me over to the authorities of the ship and explaining to them what kind of character I was. Well, do it! Tell them the worst things about me you can. Tell them that I'm in possession of stolen property and having told them, prove it."
"What do you mean by that? It is easy."
"That seems to be a favourite question of yours. I am sure the meaning of what I said was clear enough
