“Yes.”
“Was that why Sir John Rellingham ceased to pay your allowance?”
“I don’t know.”
The question was pressed.
“I don’t think it was.”
“What was the reason?”
“My husband thought I was dead.”
Tempest’s face plainly showed his surprise.
“How did you know he thought you were dead?”
“He heard of the death of my sister, and must have thought it was my death, for he wrote to my sister to condole with her, and offering to pay the expenses of the funeral. It suited me to let him think so, so I answered it in my sister’s name, and I never undeceived him.”