This to rouse her imagination and make her amenable to his wishes for secrecy.
She was a simple soul and fell easily into the trap.

In half an hour Mr.
Ransom was ensconced in a pleasant room over the porch, a room which he soon learned possessed many advantages.

For it not only overlooked the main entrance, but was so placed as to command a view of all the rooms on his hall.

In two of those rooms he bade fair to be greatly interested, Mrs.Deo having remarked that they were being prepared for a lady who was coming that night.

As he had no doubt who this lady was, he encouraged the good woman to talk, and presently had the satisfaction of hearing her say that she was very happy over this lady's coming, as she was a Sitford girl, one of the old family of Hazens, and though married now and very rich was much loved by every one in town because she had never forgotten Sitford or Sitford people.
She was coming! He had made no mistake.