As we stood in the hall, waiting for the ladies’ sunshades to be brought, I was astonished and annoyed to see Merritt coming towards us. He caught Miss Derwent’s eye and bowed. She smiled and bowed in return, which encouraged him to join us.
“How do you do? I trust you are well,” he stammered. He seemed quite painfully embarrassed, which surprised me, as I should never have thought him capable of shyness.
“Quite well, thank you,” she answered, graciously, evidently pitying his confusion.
“That was a dreadful affair at the Rosemere,” he bungled on, twisting his hat nervously round and round.
She drew herself up.
“I suppose the Doctor has told you the latest development of that affair?” he plunged on, regardless of her stiffness.
I stared at him in surprise; what was the matter with the man?
“No,” she answered, looking anxiously at me.
“Well, he’s discreet; you see we don’t want it to get into the papers—” he paused, as if waiting to be questioned.