Anne smiled and turned to the window. They went out together into the golden spring evening.
The herb garden was some distance from the house. Capper strode along in silence, with bent brows. More than ever Anne wondered what had brought him. She did not try to make conversation for him, realising by instinct that such effort would be vain as well as unwelcome. She merely walked quietly beside him, directing their steps whither he had desired to go.
They were out of sight of the house before he spoke. "Say, madam, I'm told you know the Errol family off by heart without needing to look 'em up."
She glanced at him in surprise. "Of course I know them. Yes, I know them all."
"Well?" he demanded.
"Oh, quite well." Almost involuntarily she began to explain the intimacy. "I was taken to their house after a hunting accident, and I was an invalid there for several weeks."
"That so?" Again piercingly the American's eyes scanned her. "You're real friendly then? With which in particular?"
She hesitated momentarily. Then, "I am very fond of Mrs. Errol," she said, speaking very quietly. "But Nap was my first friend, and afterwards Lucas—"
"Oh, Nap!"
There was such withering contempt in the exclamation that she had perforce to remark it.