"Is there nothing else?" asked Miss Bull, raising her black eyes inquiringly. "What of the lease of this house?"
"That is the property of Lord Derrington, and he only let the house to Mrs. Jersey by the year."
"Is not that rather strange?"
"Very strange. But the whole connection of Lord Derrington with my late client is strange. I know that she received from him an annuity of five hundred a year and the lease of this house--by the year, remember--from December to December. Now she is dead the annuity lapses, and the lease naturally will not be renewed after next month."
"It is now the end of November," said Miss Bull, quite composed. "I understand you to say that the lease expires when December----"
"It ends on the 31st of December," explained James, "and as Mrs. Jersey is dead it will not be renewed. Lord Derrington, so far as I know, has no interest in Miss Margery Watson."
"What interest had he in Mrs. Jersey?" asked Miss Bull, scenting a scandal, and her eyes brightening.
"I can't tell you that, and if I could I would not."
"Quite right. I beg your pardon for asking, but you see in the interests of that poor girl I wish to know exactly how matters stand."
"They stand as I tell you," said James, and rose to go. "I have nothing more to do in the matter and my connection with the late Mrs. Jersey ceases here."