“If he was lost, and you knew he was on the earth with you, don't you know that you would find him?”
“I should know he'd come back to me,” Little Ann answered her. “That's what—” her small face looked very fine as in her second of hesitation a spirited flush ran over it, “that's what your man will do,” quite firmly.
It was amazing to see how the bitter face changed, as if one word had brought back a passionate softening memory.
“My man!” Her voice mellowed until it was deep and low. “Did you call T. Tembarom that, too? Oh, I understand you! Keep near me while I talk to these people.” She made her sit down by her.
“I know every detail of your letters.” She addressed Palliser as well as Palford & Grimby, sweeping all details aside. “What is it you want to ask me?”
“This is our position, your ladyship,” Mr. Palford fumbled a little with his papers in speaking. “Mr. Temple Temple Barholm and the person known as Mr. Strangeways have been searched for so far without result. In the meantime we realize that the more evidence we obtain that Mr. Temple Temple Barholm identified Strangeways and acted from motive, the more solid the foundation upon which Captain Palliser's conviction rests. Up to this point we have only his statement which he is prepared to make on oath. Fortunately, however, he on one occasion overheard something said to you which he believes will be corroborative evidence.”
“What did you overhear?” she inquired of Palliser.
Her tone was not pacific considering that, logically, she must be on the side of the investigators. But it was her habit, as Captain Palliser remembered, to seem to put most people on the defensive. He meant to look as uninvolved as the duke, but it was not quite within his power. His manner was sufficiently deliberate.
“One evening, before you left for London, I was returning from the billiard-room, and heard you engaged in animated conversation with—our host. My attention was arrested, first because—” a sketch of a smile ill-concealed itself, “you usually scarcely deigned to speak to him, and secondly because I heard Jem Temple Barholm's name.”
“And you—?” neither eyes nor manner omitted the word listened.