"Yes. I hope Mr. Graves's errand was successful?"

"Well, sort of so--so."

"Yes. He came to see you in connection with your brother's estate--some
legacy, perhaps?"

She did not look at the captain when she asked this question. Therefore,
she did not notice the glance which he gave her. When he answered, it
was in the same deliberate, provokingly deliberate, manner.

"Um-hm. Somethin' of that kind, Mrs. Dunn. I can't help thinkin'," he
went on, "how nice it is that Caroline and Steve have such a good friend
as you to help 'em. Your husband and 'Bije was chums, I s'pose?

"No, not exactly. The friendship was on my side of the family."

"So? Want to know! Your husband dead, ma'am?"

Mrs. Dunn changed the subject. Her husband, Mr. Corcoran Dunn--once Mike
Dunn, contractor and Tammany politician--was buried in Calvary Cemetery.
She mourned him, after a fashion, but she preferred not to talk about
him.

"Yes," she answered shortly. "It--it looks as if it might snow, doesn't
it?"

"I shouldn't wonder. Have you any children, ma'am?"

"One--a son." The widow's tone was frigid.