Sir Julian felt inclined to ejaculate, "You don't say so!" at this bit of penetration, but the Alderman went on:
"It's not to be wondered at, either. I don't know whether you've noticed a sort of disturbance lately in the College—something in the air?"
"I know what you mean," Sir Julian said truthfully, but noncommittally.
"Exactly. Just what Lady Rossiter was speaking of the other day. Well, now that sort of thing won't do, will it? It upsets the staff—upsets the work—upsets that chap Fuller, badly. Took it very much to heart, didn't he? I suppose he thinks it reflects upon his credit as Supervisor, when things go wrong with the staff. However, it's all quite easily put right, when all's said and done."
Such not being the comfortable conviction of Sir Julian, he waited for further enlightenment.
"The girl can go."
"Oh," said Sir Julian. "Yes. The girl can go, of course."
"It needn't affect her references in any way," said the Alderman, apparently made uneasy by something in Sir Julian's tone.
"Certainly not."
"There's no harm in the girl, I daresay, though I don't like what I hear of those antecedents of hers."