Everyone heard her; everyone looked up with interest. Dodo tried to whisper a warning, but it was not heard.
“You heard, didn’t you?” she went on. “It was the saddest thing! You know, of course, that the poor man went blind. And then, my dear, that heartless, awful woman he’d married deserted him. I believe she ran off with another man.”
“Shut up!” whispered Dodo. “Don’t you see her?”
“Who?” asked Miss Gosorkus aloud, her babyish eyes searching the room. She didn’t recognise Rosaleen, even as a vaguely familiar face.
“And after that,” she continued, “the poor man went to Paris, and he was run over by a taxi. He’s been dead five years.”
CHAPTER FOUR
I
Nick crossed the room and sat down beside Miss Gosorkus, scowling and pale.
“You’re sure?” he asked.
“Sure?” she repeated, enquiringly.