CHAPTER VII.
THE ASSURANCE MONEY Mrs.Vrain's fainting fit was of no great duration, and she shortly recovered her senses, but not her sprightliness.

Her excuse was that the long discussion of her husband's murder, and the too precise details related to her by Link before Denzil's arrival, had so wrought on her nerves as to occasion her temporary indisposition.
This reason, which was a trifle weak, since she seemed to bear her husband's loss with great stoicism, awakened suspicions in Lucian's mind as to her truthfulness.

However, these were too vague and confused to be put into words, so the young man remained silent until Mrs.Vrain and her father departed.

This they did almost immediately, after the widow had given her London and country addresses to the detective, in case he should require her in the conduct of the case.
This matter being attended to, she left the room, with a parting smile and especial bow to Lucian.
Link smiled in his turn as he observed this Parthian shaft, the shooting of which was certainly out of keeping with Mrs.Vrain's character of a mourning widow.
"You seem to have made an impression on the lady, Mr.Denzil," he said, with a slight cough to conceal his amusement.
"Nonsense!" replied Lucian, his fair face crimsoning with vexation.

"She seems to me one of those shallow women who would sooner flirt with a tinker than pass unnoticed by the male sex.