Mrs. Rightbody, a little alarmed and desperate, saw her blunder. “I mean nothing of the kind,” she said hastily. “I only expected that you might have some further details of this interview with Silsbie; that perhaps you could tell me—” a bold, bright thought crossed Mrs. Rightbody's mind—“something more about HER.”
The two men looked at each other.
“I suppose your society have no objection to giving me information about HER,” said Mrs. Rightbody eagerly.
Another quiet conversation in the corner, and the return of both men.
“We want to say that we've no objection.”
Mrs. Rightbody's heart beat high. Her boldness had made her penetration good. Yet she felt she must not alarm the men heedlessly.
“Will you inform me to what extent Mr. Rightbody, my late husband, was interested in her?”
This time it seemed an age to Mrs. Rightbody before the men returned from their solemn consultation in the corner. She could both hear and feel that their discussion was more animated than their previous conferences. She was a little mortified, however, when they sat down, to hear Seventy-Four say slowly,—
“We wish to say that we don't allow to say HOW much.”
“Do you not think that the 'sacred compact' between Mr. Rightbody and Mr. Silsbie referred to her?”