Miss Barfoot answered with brief assent. If he liked to come to Great Portland Street at three o’clock on Saturday she would be awaiting him.
On arriving, he inspected the rooms with curiosity.
“I have often wished to come here, Mary. Show me over the premises, will you?”
“That was your purpose—?”
“No, not altogether. But you know how your work interests me.”
Mary complied, and freely answered his various questions. Then they sat down on hard chairs by the fire, and Everard, leaning forward as if to warm his hands, lost no more time in coming to the point.
“I want to hear about Miss Nunn.”
“To hear about her? Pray, what do you wish to hear?”
“Is she well?”
“Very well indeed.”