"I don't just faint at bad news..." she remarked. "Or become ill." She sighed, knowing she was made of stronger stuff than that. She was delaying the inevitable. But finally she said, "Yes, show him the paper please..." She shook her head and stood up, pacing. She turned to Douglas then and said, "You're right. There is a man who wanted the fortune. And he sent me a letter telling me he was going to find me and do the same." She paused and stuck the tip of her thumb into her mouth.

For a moment, she stood like that.