“Sad business—sad business this! Deyvilish!”
“Good-bye, sir, I trust you may have a pleasant journey. Good-bye.”
“One word, dear and reverend sir. How is—how is Mrs. Marvel?”
“Bearing up fairly well, I thank you.”
“I am rejoiced. Rejoiced. After so many emotions! Ah, I was going to suggest that it might perhaps be of some advantage, some advantage, perhaps, to Mrs. Marvel, were I to defer my departure for a day or two. I would gladly do so if——”
“I cannot conceive,” interrupted Dr. Tutterville, “any circumstance that would make this probable.”
Mr. Villars hemmed meaningly, looked at the bailiff’s stolid countenance, and winked importantly at the rector. But as the latter remained unresponsive, Mr. Villars proceeded with a point of acrimony in his tone:
“No doubt Mrs. Marvel has already given satisfactory explanation of last night’s——”
“Sir,” interposed Dr. Tutterville, opening the study door, “you force me to remark that my time is valuable.”
“Your wife’s niece, sir, I understand.”