“I'm sure I was very fond of poor Uncle Gregory,” said Janet unwisely.
“How very affecting!” said Randall. “But perhaps you are also sure that you are very fond of me too?”
“I always try to see the best in people,” said Janet with a bright smile. “And I'm sure you don't mean half the things you say.”
Randall looked at her with acute dislike. “I congratulate you, Janet,” he said. “Your cousins have been trying to silence me for years, but you have done it with one utterly fatuous remark.”
“May I ask, Randall, whether you came here with any other intention than of being offensive to my daughter?” asked Mrs Lupton.
“Why, certainly,” he answered, “I came to satisfy my not unnatural curiosity.”
“You mean your uncle's death?”
“I mean nothing of the sort,” said Randall. “I was already informed of that, and also of the impending post-mortem, by uncle's solicitor. I was curious to know how you were all behaving in this time of trial, and why it had not occurred to any of you to notify me of uncle's death.”
He looked round inquiringly as he spoke, and Guy immediately said: “Because we didn't want you nosing about and creating unpleasantness!”
“Oh, I do hope I haven't done that?” said Randall in a voice of gentle concern.