"Why, he was here this morning," Durham said.
"Excuse me, Mr. Durham, he was not. You remember what I told you last night. I did not care to say then, but the old man was very strange in his manner before dinner, and I believed he had had drink. I spoke to him about it, and I have not seen him since."
"But—who got breakfast ready?" Durham asked sharply.
"I did myself, Mr. Durham."
"Oh, Mrs. Burke; why did you not tell me? I could have——"
"An Irish lady, Mr. Durham, does not ask her guests to do her housework."
Durham turned away at the sting of her words and voice.
"Did you see the old man in the town, Brennan?" she asked.
"No, Mrs. Burke, he was not in town last night. I should have seen him."
"Oh, dear, then what can have happened to the creature? Sure I wish I had left him behind me in Ireland."