Although Nick Carter could not see what was done, his ears were sufficient of a guide to the truth to inform him that the man at this point put his arm around the woman and kissed her affectionately. It was all that Nick could do at this time to prevent gritting his teeth so that they would hear. It fairly made his blood run cold to hear that man talk so coolly of the foul wrong that it was intended should, through him, befall a young and innocent girl. Like a revelation had been these few words that he had thus far overheard. That the woman was mollified by his caresses was shown by the tone of her voice when she next spoke. “I am sure, Demas, that you do not care for any other woman, and yet at times I cannot think but that you must, and it drives me nearly mad with jealousy. I long thought that you cared a good deal for this namesake of mine that you used to go to see once in a while.” “Pish! Helen; I never cared a copper for her. But, when I saw that she was fool enough to fall in love with me, I believed it would not be a bad idea to keep it alive, for even then the plot we are working out had begun to frame itself in my mind. “I never believed, as you did, that she was really the daughter of Field.” “That was the result of your jealousy. It made you nearsighted where she was concerned. I wish I was as sure of some other things as I am that she is really his child.” “You think that she will marry you for the asking?” “If I had not been sure of it, do you suppose that I would have gone into the scheme under the circumstances that I have? Of course I am sure of it.” “How can you be?” “How do I know that you love me and are the best and most daring woman in the world, where my best interests are concerned, my dear?” The woman laughed. She said, returning to a subject previously touched upon: “Well, what about Field?” “I can’t make it out.” “You were up there to-day?” “Yes.” “And learned nothing?” “Just precisely that. Appearances are that he was taken to the river bank and away in a boat.” “Who could have done it?” “I don’t know. I can’t even guess.” “Nor what the reason was?” “No. If I could once get at a reason I might spot the person who carried Field off. What the fellow wanted with his dead body, unless it was to play counter to me, I cannot understand.” “That’s what it looks like.” “Yes, that and nothing else, but I can’t think of anybody who would be likely to be in the game, as nobody knew what I was up to.” The woman’s jealousy led her to revert to that other Helen again, saying: “You will not think of marrying her until it is settled that she is dead certain of getting the money as well as the credit of being old Field’s daughter?” “Of course not. But, hark!” While the man and the woman were listening to some sound that had reached their ears the detective was busily thinking. What he had heard was a revelation to him in every sense of the word.