“How long had you been married?”
“Not very long, sir—not a year, quite.” Mrs. Platz’s lips were suddenly unsteady.
“Mrs. Platz, why did you leave Mrs. Ives’s employ?”
“Do I have to answer that, sir?”
“I should very much like to have you answer it. Was it because you were discontented with your work?”
“Oh, no, indeed, it wasn’t that; nobody in this world could want a kinder mistress than Mrs. Ives. It was because—it was because of Adolph.”
“What about Adolph, Mrs. Platz?”
“It was because——” She shook her head despairingly, fighting down the shamed, painful flush. “I don’t like talking about it, sir. I’m not one for talking much.”
“I know. Still, the only thing that can help any of us now is truth. I’m sure that you want to help to give us that.”
“Yes, sir, I do. All right then—it was because of the way Adolph was carrying on with Mrs. Ives’s waitress, Melanie.”