"
"Does she live alone?"
"With her servants only."
"How many?"
"She keeps a butler, a male cook, and two housemaids. Also a girl to
look after her wardrobe and act as her dresser at the theater."
"Evidently Senora Cervera is wealthy," said Nick.
"Well, not exactly wealthy," rejoined Venner. "She is the popular craze
just now, and from her professional work she derives a very large income
which she scatters as if dollars were dead leaves. In a word, Detective
Carter, Senora Cervera is an arrant spendthrift."
"So I have heard," nodded Nick.
"You have?"
"Oh, yes!" laughed the detective. "That appears to surprise you. It
will not, when I tell you that there are very few public characters in
New York of whose general habits I am not tolerably well informed. Of
course, Mr. Venner, you have no doubt of this Spanish dancer's honesty?"
Nick added, bluntly.
Venner flushed deeply, and instantly shook his head.
"Most assuredly not," he cried, with some feeling. "Senora Cervera
dishonest? Impossible!"
"Improbable, Mr. Venner, no doubt; but not impossible."
"It is, sir," declared Venner, positively. "I know her well. Such an
idea is absurd. Drop it at once, Detective Carter.
Pages:
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30