If you came here
to insult me--"
"There can be no insult in asking a few questions," said Random,
throwing aside his stiffness and speaking decisively. "I
received this letter, which bears a London postmark, by the
mid-day post. The handwriting is disguised, and there is neither
address nor signature nor date. You manufactured your
communication very cleverly, Mrs. Jasher, but you forgot that the
Chinese perfume might betray you."
"The perfume! the perfume!" Mrs. Jasher gasped and saw in a
moment how the late conversation had led her to fall into a trap.
"The letter retains traces of the perfume you use," went on the
baronet relentlessly. "I have a remarkably keen sense of smell,
and, as scent is a most powerful aid to memory, I speedily
recollected that you used this especial perfume. You told me a
few moments ago that no one else used it, and so you have proved
the truth of my statement that this letter"--he tapped it--"is
written by you."
"It's a lie--a mistake," stuttered Mrs. Jasher, now at bay and
looking dangerous. Her society veneer was stripped off, and the
adventuress pure and simple came to the surface.
Indignant at the way in which she had deceived everyone, and
having much at stake, Random did not spare her.
Pages:
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316