“Me, too,” and Mrs Everett smiled. “If she did it, she had a deeper motive than that! A more disgraceful one.” “Meaning?” “Well?—not to put too fine a point upon it,—breach of promise!” “Was there such a breach?” “Oh, I’m not saying,—but Letitia certainly wanted to marry Sir Herbert——” “Why, I thought he was your admirer——” “Oh, well,” and the lady bridled, “I’m not saying anything about that—but if he did admire me, that doesn’t mean I smiled on him. I’m no husband hunter,—and poor Letitia is and always has been—without success, poor thing!” “And it went as far as an engagement?” “I only surmise that from what Miss Prall has hinted—not, I must say, from anything poor Sir Herbert said! But you know what old maids are——” “How comes it that, while you and Miss Prall are at such odds, you have the same admirers? I’m told Mr Crippen is a beau of both.” Zizi sensed the widow’s willingness to exploit her conquests and utilized the knowledge. “Oh, he didn’t care for Letitia! He was rather polite to me, but I had to discourage him. One can’t be too careful. And if you give a man a kindly smile, he thinks he may presume on it.” “Was Sir Herbert like that?” “Yes, indeed! Although he was Richard’s uncle, he was no kin to Richard’s aunt Letitia, and he didn’t hesitate to tell me how little he admired that Grenadier type of woman.” “Preferring more feminine natures?” “Yes,” Mrs Everett preened herself. “How you do understand, Miss Zizi! I expect you’re a heart-breaker yourself.” “Oh, rather!” and Zizi’s big dark eyes rolled roguishly. “But I say, Mrs Everett, if this breach of promise case is a true bill, it’s a straw to show which way the wind might have blown,—at least.” “Well, don’t quote me,—but I do know Letitia Prall’s nature and you know it’s said, ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’” Zizi faced her squarely and with a sharp look said, “You know, Mrs Everett, you’re making a very grave accusation. Do you really think Miss Prall is——” “Yes, I do! That man was killed. He said women did it. There are no women sufficiently interested in his death to be suspected of it except Letitia and Eliza Gurney. So, much as I hate to think so dreadfully of any woman, I’ve no choice but to suspect them. Of course, it’s a grave accusation, but you asked me and it’s my duty to say what I think.”