"Concerning Mr. Wrent."
"You are a friend of his?"
"I said so, Mrs. Bensusan, but as a matter of fact I never set eyes on the gentleman in my life."
Mrs. Bensusan gasped like a fish out of water, and patted her fat breast with her fat hand, as though to give herself courage. "It is not like a gentleman to say that another gentleman's his friend when he ain't," she said, with an attempt at dignity.
"Very true," answered Lucian, with great composure, "but you know the saying, 'All is fair in love and war.' I will be plain with you, Mrs. Bensusan," he added, "I am here to seek possible evidence in connection with the murder of Mr. Vrain, in No. 13, on Christmas Eve."
Mrs. Bensusan gave a kind of hoarse screech, and stared at Lucian in a horrified manner.
"Murder!" she repeated. "Lord! what mur—that murder! Mr. Vrain! Mr. Vrain—that murder!" she repeated over and over again.
"Yes, the murder of Mr. Vrain in No. 13 Geneva Square on Christmas Eve. Now do you understand?"
With another gasp Mrs. Bensusan threw up her fat hands and raised her eyes to the ceiling.
"As I am a Christian woman, sir," she cried, "I am as innocent as a babe unborn!"