"I'm not sure. But somehow he didn't give me that impression. If he knew there was nothing between you and Ernie, I don't quite see the reason for the very definite animus against Ernie."
"He never cared much for him. But as for animus, that's absurd!"
"Oh no, it isn't, and you know it isn't, my girl! John's wasting no tears over Ernie's death. Moreover, it wouldn't altogether surprise me to learn that he knows more than you think he does."
"Once a novelist always a novelist!" said Helen, with a little laugh.
"Too true! And that being so, I think I'll wander round to take a look at the scene of the crime after lunch."
"You can't possibly do that!"
"What's to stop me?"
"It isn't decent!"
"Decent be blowed! I shall go and rout that poor worm Neville out. He's another person who conceivably knows more than he chooses to admit. I hope the police aren't underrating him; immense potentialities in Neville."
"Potentialities for what?"