“Who is this gentleman?” she said rather sternly, and for me moment Chester was so completely taken aback that the butler had time to speak.
“Here’s his card, ma’am. He’s been before wanting to see Miss Clareborough. Master’s seen it, ma’am, and says he don’t know anything about the gentleman, and that if he had business he was to write.”
The housekeeper turned to Chester, raising her eyebrows a little, and he had by this time recovered his balance.
“Of course,” he said, “I can quite understand Mr James’s action after his treatment of me, madam.”
“I beg your pardon, sir?”
“Let me speak to you alone,” he continued. “I can say nothing before this man.”
“Had you not better write to Mr Clareborough, sir, if you have business with the family?”
“No, certainly not,” said Chester. “My business is with Miss Clareborough, and I insist upon seeing her.”
“Excuse me, sir,” said the housekeeper, calmly; “as a gentleman, you must know that one of the ladies would decline to see a stranger on business unless she knew what that business was.”
“A stranger—on business!” cried Chester, angrily. “My good woman, why do you talk like this to me?”