"I know. I thought it would look like the fall from the sublime to the ridiculous if I did," he explained, indicating with a wave of his hand her funereal attire.
"One likes to show respect for the dead," she said. "Oh, Miss Drew, so kind of your sister to send such beautiful flowers!" She pressed Sally's hand, and added: "I expect you must find this all most interesting. I always think it so clever of you to write books. So complicated, too. Not that I've read them, of course. I find I'm too stupid to understand detective stories, but I always put them down on my library list."
"You wouldn't be so encouraging if you knew what she's up to," said Neville. "She's trying to prove that I murdered Ernie."
"Oh no, dear!" said Miss Fletcher distressfully. "I'm afraid Neville's often very thoughtless, but he wouldn't do a thing like that."
"Why on earth you can't keep a still tongue in your head baffles conjecture!" Sally told Neville wrathfully.
"His poor father was very talkative," explained Miss Fletcher. "Dear Ernie, too, was always good company. But unfortunately Neville has got into a bad habit of mumbling, which makes it very difficult to hear what he says. Neville, I have just discovered that there will have to be an inquest. Can nothing be done to stop it?"
"No. Do you mind?" he inquired.
"Well, dear, it's not very nice, is it? We've never had such a thing in the family. So common! I wonder if Mr. Lawrence could do anything about it? I think I will go and ring him up."
"But Miss Fletcher -!"began Sally, only to be silenced by having her foot trodden on by Neville.
Miss Fletcher, recommending Neville to take care of his guest, drifted away. Neville said softly: "You know, you're a menace. Leave my aunt to me, will you?"