“Is that material?” asked Clarence.
“Do not bandy words; the sooner we get at the point of the matter the better. As to its being material, I think it is; very much so.”
“She is an orphan. She was the daughter of a fisherman, but when she lost her parents she came to London and went to work to support herself. She worked in our office for a while, but left because a better position was offered her.”
“Very good,” said his father. “You surely looked for high game and got it.”
“If you make any more such comments about my wife,” said Clarence, “I will refuse to answer another question,” and there was a ring in his voice which told the father that the son meant what he said.
“Where did she come from?”
“She was born at Pagham, a little village in Sussex on the English Channel.”
“And she is gone with Bertha as her companion?” He had intended to say “your accomplice.”
“Yes.”
“Where have they gone?”