She spoke with emphasis.
"Alone—the other morning—at the British Museum!"
Somehow she felt the shot had missed fire. It had fallen flat. It was less effective than she had hoped. It did not sound so very shocking after all.
He continued to smile with the air of waiting for the climax. She gathered herself together and went on—
"I heard it from Miss Westbury, so it is a fact!"
Harry thought of saying that he preferred an old wives' tale any day to an old maid's fact, but he only smiled on.
"Of course, if this is untrue, Mr. de Freyne—if it is a mistake, or a false report, you have merely to deny it. Assure me it is incorrect—on your word of honour—and I will then contradict it in the proper quarter."
He decided on his line. "My dear lady, pray don't contradict it. As a report it is a gem—it is unique. Not merely because it's absolutely true—for, as a matter of fact, I think most reports are—but because of its utter unimportance! It seems to me so trivial—so dull—so wanting in interest to the general public."
"You think reports are usually true, Mr. de Freyne?"
"I am convinced they are. I believe firmly in the no-smoke-without-fire theory. Oh, do you know, I think it is so true!... This certainly is true—it's a solemn fact."