'But you don't suppose I can accept a present of money from you, Mr Dymes?'
'Hang it! Just as you like, of course. But don't make me take it now, as if I'd looked in with my little bill. Send the cheque, if you must. But what I really came for, when I called a few weeks ago, was something else—quite a different thing, and a good deal more important. Just sit down again, if you can spare me a few minutes.'
With face averted, Alma sank back into her chair. Harvey would give her the money without a word, but she dreaded the necessity of asking him for it. So disturbed were her thoughts that she did not notice how oddly Dymes was regarding her, and his next words sounded meaningless.
'By-the-bye, can we talk here?'
'Talk——?'
'I mean'—he lowered his voice—'are we safe from interruption? It's all right; don't look frightened. The fact is, I want to speak of something rather awkward—but it's something you ought to know about, if you don't already.'
'I am quite at leisure,' she replied; adding, with a nervous movement of the head, 'there will be no interruption.'
'I want to ask you, then, have you seen Mrs. Strangeways lately?'
'No.'
'Nor Mrs. Carnaby?'