'Are you Mr. Egremont, sir?'
Then she was shocked at her boldness; she did not see the smile with which he replied:
'Yes, that is my name.'
'I am Miss Trent. Perhaps you have—perhaps Mr. Grail has told you—'
This, Miss Trent? This, Gilbert Grail's wife? His astonishment scarcely allowed him to relieve her promptly.
'Oh then, we already know each other, by name at least. You have come to look at the building. Mr. Grail is downstairs?'
'No, sir. I came in alone. I thought I should like to see—'
'Of course. You have been over the house?'
He wondered rather at her coming alone, but supposed that Grail was withheld by some business.
'Yes, sir,' she answered.