"Have you longer any
reason to fear him?"
She turned swiftly. "Fear him? What do you mean?"
"We thought he might be unscrupulous and might make himself
objectionable."
She shrugged. "I dare say it is possible."
"I must confess," he pursued, "I can't quite make the fellow out. Nor his
motive for remaining in the place. Your brother told me he came across
him hanging about in one of your plantations."
He thought the blood left her face for an instant, but otherwise she
showed no sign of discomposure.
"How did he account for his being there?" she asked calmly.
"Unsatisfactorily enough. I forget his actual excuse."
"Was that all?" she demanded coldly.
"I believe so. But it is hardly desirable, as your brother said, to have
the man prowling about the property."
For a moment she was silent. "No," she said as though by an afterthought.
Her manner troubled him. "I hope he is not attempting to annoy you," he
said searchingly.
She looked surprised and, he thought, a little resentful at his question.
"Me?" she returned coldly. "By hanging about in the plantation?"
"If he goes no farther than that--"
"Why should he?" she demanded in the same rather chilling tone.
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