The Law of the Land by Fred M. White

For a long time after Dick had gone, Kate Lingen lay back in the contemplation of her painful thoughts. She had not exaggerated the position of affairs when she declared that she was in dire need of a large sum of money during the next few days. Up to a certain point everything had gone well with her. A lucky trip to Monte Carlo had found the means for setting up the bijou establishment in Selwyn-street, though practically all the contents of the house had been obtained on the strength of a hired motor car, a pretty face, and an unscrupulous abuse of the truth.

Not that the fascinating adventuress had any fears on the score of the truth. She knew that she was lovely, she knew what her powers over men were. And she was undoubtedly a widow, which gave her all the freedom that she needed. She was confident that before long people would begin to talk of her; she calculated upon getting paragraphs in the papers; on more than one occasion she took part in charity theatricals. There was only one thing--could she wait long enough? There are limits even to the patience of London tradesmen.