“The fatuous idiot,” said Carmel.
“It must be a great satisfaction,” said Evan, dryly, “to understand human beings so thoroughly.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was admiring,” said Evan, “the unerring certainty with which you arrived at Mr. Fownes’s true character.”
She peered at him, searching for a trace of irony, but his face was innocent, bland.
“Why does a wealthy man like Mr. Fownes—a powerful man—give a thought to so insignificant a thing as this paper?”
“An interesting speculation—provided your premises are true.”
“What premises?”
“Your major premise, so to speak—wealth.”
“Why, is he not rich?”