"
Quincy smiled grimly. "He wasn't through with me. He followed me. 'My
employer.' he began, 'is very tenacious on several points, and one of
them is the acceleration of matrimonial preliminaries, commonly
called courting, in the house which he owns and successfully conducts
with my humble assistance. Will you allow me to ask you a question?'
"Alexander had opened the auto door, and I stood with one foot on the
step."
Quincy was silent for a moment. Miss Dana's curiosity was excited.
"What did he ask you to do?"
"His question was--'are you going to marry Miss Dana?'"
"Preposterous!" cried Miss Dana. "I shall leave the 'Cawthorne' to-
morrow. What answer did you give to so impertinent a question?"
"I said, not to-night. Not until to-morrow. Then I jumped in, slammed
the door, and off we went leaving Mr. Cass fully informed as to my
intentions."
Mary thought, under the circumstances, that a change of subjects was
necessary.
"I am working on the Harrison case. I don't believe he poisoned his
wife. I think the law killed an innocent man."
"Another Robert Wood affair? Have you seen your little namesake, Mary
Wood?"
"Yes. I am going to spend to-morrow in the laboratory making toxic
analyses."
"I've been very busy to-day."
"Not working?"
"No, getting ready to. I've bought out an established business."
"You said you disliked business.
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