“Do you suspect him of having influenza?” I asked.
“Of course, but he won’t own up if he can help it.”
“Vittie is only shamming,” I said. “Titherington told me so, he may emerge at any moment.”
“It’s just like Tithers to say that. The one thing he cannot do is speak the truth. As a matter of fact Vittie is in a dangerous condition. His aunt told me so.”
“Have you been to see him.”
“No. The aunt came round to us this morning with tears in her eyes, and begged us to spare Vittie.”
“I suppose the things you have been saying about him have made him worse.”
“According to his aunt they keep him in such an excitable state that he can’t sleep. I told her I was jolly glad to hear it. That just shows the amount of good the A.S.P.L. is doing in the district. It’s making its power felt in every direction.”
“If Vittie dies———”
“He won’t. That sort of man never does. I’m sorry for the aunt of course. She seemed a quiet, respectable sort of woman and, curiously enough, very fond of Vittie. I told her that I’d do anything I conscientiously could to lull off Vittie, but that I had my duty to perform. And I have, you know. I’m clearing the air.”