“I am a stranger to you, madam,” he observed, apologetically; “but the business I am engaged in makes it a matter of necessity that we should confer together.”
“Do you wish to see me or my husband? If the latter he is not within, and will not return home till the evening.”
“It’s you I desire to communicate with, not your husband.”
Mrs. Gatliffe looked surprised, but did not make any reply.
She opened a side door, and conducted her visitor into the front parlour.
The lawyer was struck by her appearance, as well he might be. She was dressed in a neat stuff gown, which fitted tight to her graceful and symmetrical figure, and he thought she was the very personification of female loveliness without the aid of any meretricious adornment.
He entered the parlour and was handed a chair by the mistress of the establishment.
“You will, perhaps, be no wiser,” said Mr. Chicknell, with a smile, when I inform you that I am solicitor to Lord Ethalwood, seeing that in all probability even the name of his lordship may be unknown to you.”
“It is.”
“Well, madam, it must remain so no longer, as it is requisite that you should know who you are.”