"I see what's worrying you. Clear your mind. I would not marry the
richest, handsomest woman in all the world, Thomas. There's a dead
heart inside of me."
"There's another thing. I'd get rid of that valet."
"Why?"--quickly.
"He's too bally soft on his feet to my liking. I don't like him."
"Neither do I, Thomas!" murmured Kitty, forgetting all about her
hunger. Not a word about her sapphires, though. Did she see but the
surface of things? Was there something deeper?
She stole back up-stairs. As she reached the upper landing, some one
brushed past her, swiftly, noiselessly. With the rush of air which
followed the prowler's wake came a peculiar sickish odor. She waited
for a while. But there was no sound in all the great house.