I've been worried, and harassed, and goaded, and mystified
until I'm half mad, and here you come with your infernal nonsense about
'making away' with her. That means murdering her, I suppose. I always
took you to be more or less mad, Miriam Dane, but I never before took
you to be a fool."
The woman looked at him keenly--he was evidently telling the truth. Yet
still she doubted.
"Who but you, Carl Walraven, had any interest in her, one way or the
other? What enemies could a girl of sixteen have?"
"Ah! what, indeed? If a girl of sixteen will flirt with every eligible
man she meets until she renders him idiotic, she must expect to pay the
penalty. But I don't pretend to understand this affair; it is wrapped in
blacker mystery than the Man in the Iron Mask. All I've got to say is--I
had no hand in it; so no more of your black looks, Mistress Miriam."
"And all I've got to say, Mr. Walraven," said Miriam, steadfastly
fixing her eyes upon him, "is that if Mollie Dane is not found before
the month is out, I will publish your story to the world. What will
Madame Walraven, what will Mrs.
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