Mariana rose and shook out her skirts. "I must go," she said, "and you haven't done a bit of work."
"So we haven't," replied Miss Hill, picking up her needle. "But take some caramels—do."
Mariana took a caramel and went out into the hall. Algarcife's door was open, and he was standing upon the threshold talking to Claude Nevins.
As Mariana passed, Nevins smiled and called to her:
"I say, Miss Musin, here is a vandal who complains that you make night hideous."
Algarcife scowled.
"Nevins is a fool," he retorted, "and if he doesn't know it, he ought to be told so."
"Thanks," returned Nevins, amiably, "but I have long since learned not to believe anything I hear."
Anthony's irritation increased. "I should have thought the presumptive evidence sufficient to overcome any personal bias," he replied.
Nevins spread out his hands with an imperturbable shrug.