“That is the only explanation that occurs to you?”
“It is the only explanation that it occurs to me to give you,” said Mr. Ives gently, a small, dangerous smile playing about the corner of his mouth.
Mr. Lambert eyed him indecisively for a moment, and prudently decided on another tack. “Did that conclude your conversation?”
“Oh, no,” replied Mr. Ives, the smile deepening. “That started it.”
“Will you give us the rest of it, please?”
“I’m afraid I can’t. As I told you, I have a bad memory. If it doesn’t betray me, however, I believe that it was largely an elaboration of the two original themes.”
“What themes?”
“The themes of her departure and my intervention.”
“Miss Page said nothing about a note?”
“A note?” There was a look of genuine surprise in the lifted brows.