The incipient smile, the attitude of bantering protest had faded from Cayley's face, as the old man spoke. He listened sedately. Oliver Payson was a rich man. He had an attractive, marriageable daughter. Blanchard Cayley was poor, single and without prospects.
"Of course, there's much we don't yet understand," he said gravely. "One hears all sorts of tales--there must be some foundation to them."
"That's so--why, just look at Cly! She's had queer things happen to her ever since she was a child."
"Yes, I suppose that's why she's so interested in this palmist person; though I confess I don't take much stock in him."
"Why, I thought of course you knew. Granthope, the palmist--you know, the fellow everybody's taking up now--he has been here, hasn't he? I had an idea that Cly had taken rather a fancy to him."
"He was here?" Mr. Payson seemed much surprised.
"Why, I wouldn't have spoken of it for the world if I had known you didn't know--but I've seen her with him several times, and I thought, of course--" Cayley threw it out apologetically in apparent confusion at his indiscretion.
Mr. Payson stared. "Granthope, did you say? I believe I have heard of him. Cly and a common palmist? I can't believe it. What can she want of a charlatan like that?"
"I was sorry to see it myself," Cayley admitted, "but I suppose she knows what she's doing. The man's notorious enough. Only, she ought to be careful."
"I won't have it!" Mr. Payson began to storm. "Reading palms for a lot of silly women is a very different thing from spiritualism. I don't mind her going to see him once for the curiosity of the thing, but I won't have him in the house. I'll put a stop to that in a hurry. You say you've seen them together? Where?"
"Oh, I think it was probably an accidental meeting," he said. "I wish you wouldn't say anything about it, Mr. Payson. Very likely it doesn't mean anything at all. Tell me about this fellow you spoke of going to. Do you think he's all right?"
"I'll soon find out if he isn't--trust me!" Mr. Payson wagged his head wisely. "His name is Professor Vixley, and I've heard he's a very remarkable man. I'm going to see him next week and see what he can do for me. I'm not one to be fooled by any claptrap; I intend to sift this thing to the bottom."