"Well, it's nice to know that he hasn't joined the great majority."
She looked sharply at him. "Is that what people have been thinking? Go on, tell me!"
"People are so lewd," murmured Neville.
"Has there been talk? Much of it?"
"Oh no! Just a little light-hearted gossip to pass the time."
She was silent for a moment, frowning. At last she said: "That's bad. Easily discovered, and saddles John with a motive. If he got wind of that… Hang it, he wouldn't burst home just to bash Ernie on the head! It's archaic."
Neville handed her a cigarette, and lit one himself. "You could work that up into a plausible story if you put your mind to it," he said. "While in Berlin, John heard repercussions of the gossip -'
"Why in Berlin?" she interrupted.
"That I can't tell you. You'll probably be able to think out several attractive answers for yourself. He returned to remonstrate with Ernie -'
"I don't see John remonstrating."