"—Not home?—not come home yet, do you say?—been out the whole night—"
I heard the mother mumble something, that "he" must soon come home.
"And he has not even left any message? He promised that I should meet him at ten o'clock to-day.—A strange gentleman, do you say, whom Miss Frick has recommended to come to you—?"
The mother must have spoken of my presence, but the daughter seemed to have a legitimate suspicion about the recommendation from Miss Frick. Perhaps she was inquisitive, and wanted to see the phenomenon who came to Madame Reierson with his washing; for the door immediately opened, and I stood face to face with Evelina, the lady's-maid.
She stood there, tall and erect, pretty and tastefully dressed as usual. When she recognized me, her pale face became still paler, and it seemed to me she tottered a little. She only pressed her thin lips together and looked calmly at me.
"Are you here? I did not know the police were here." She looked at my garb and smiled a little scornfully.
At these words, Madame Reierson forced herself past her daughter and surveyed me angrily.
"Police, do you say? Does he belong to the police? Well, I might have guessed it, since he sneaked in here and began to talk of the stolen diamond and suchlike."
I looked at the daughter, but her features were immovable. Either she had nothing to do with the diamond robbery, or she had a stronger will power than most people.
"You forget, Madame Reierson," said I, "that it was you who began to talk to me of the robbery at Mr. Frick's."