“Careful!” he repeated. “She isn't likely to be even civil to me tomorrow when I tell her that I have seen you and I refuse to give her your address. Careful, indeed! What has a poor clerk in a house-agent's office to fear from such a personage?”
The servant had reappeared with their second and last course. For a few moments they spoke of casual subjects. Afterwards, however, Tavernake asked a question.
“By the way,” he said, “we are hoping to let Grantham House to Mrs. Wenham Gardner. I suppose she must be very wealthy?”
Beatrice looked at him curiously.
“Why do you come to me for information?” she demanded. “I suppose that she brought you references?”
“We haven't quite got to that stage yet,” he answered. “Somehow or other, from her manner of talking and general appearance, I do not think that either Mr. Dowling or I doubted her financial position.”
“I should never have thought you so credulous a person,” remarked Beatrice, with a smile.
Tavernake was genuinely disturbed. His business instincts were aroused.
“Do you really mean that this Mrs. Wenham Gardner is not a person of substance?” he inquired.
Beatrice shrugged her shoulders.