“Humph!” The inspector turned this surprising information over in his mind. “How long had you been—well, friendly with her?” he continued, somewhat inadequately, after a short pause.
“For about a year,” replied Woodthorpe, who evidently understood what the inspector’s delicacy was intended to convey.
“Did you have many quarrels during that time?”
“About as many as other people do, I suppose.”
“Not more than you might expect to have with any other woman?”
“Well—perhaps a few more,” Woodthorpe admitted awkwardly.
Frantic signs from Roger conveyed the information to the inspector that his companion was anxious to put a question of his own. As the conversation had taken a psychological turn, the inspector saw no harm in graciously according permission.
“Did you find that you had cause as time went on very considerably to modify your original estimate of the lady’s character?” Roger asked, choosing his words with some care.
Woodthorpe shot him a grateful look. “Yes,” he said instantly. “I did.”
Roger held him with a thoughtful eye. “Would you call her,” he said slowly, “an imprudent woman?”