Valerie, already smarting from the sense of her own wrongs, and further aggrieved by her parent's attitude of bracing common sense, was only too glad to have found someone to whom she could unburden herself. She drew nearer to the Inspector, saying: "Well, I have. I mean, I'm one of those frightfully highly-strung people. I just can't help it!"
The Inspector now had a certain cue, and responded instantly to it. "I could see at a glance that you were a mass of nerves," he said brazenly.
"That's just it!" said Valerie, immensely gratified. "Only none of these people realise it, or care a damn about anyone but themselves. Except Uncle Joe: he's nice; and I rather like Willoughby Roydon too. But the rest have been simply foul to me."
Jealous, I wouldn't wonder," nodded Hemingway.
She laughed, and patted her curls. "Well, I can't imagine why they should be! Besides, Stephen's as bad as the others. Worse if anything!"
"Perhaps he's jealous too, in a different way. I know I would be."
"Oh, Stephen's not in the least like that!" she said, brushing the suggestion aside. "He doesn't care what I do. No, honestly he doesn't! In fact, he doesn't behave as though he cared for me a bit, in spite of having brought me down here to get to know his uncle. Of course, I oughtn't to be saying this to you," she added, with a belated recollection of their respective positions.
"You don't want to worry about what you say to me," said the Inspector. "I daresay it's a relief to be able to get it off your chest. I can see you've been through a lot."
"I must say, I think you're frightfully decent!" she said. "It's been sheer hell ever since Mr. Herriard was killed; and that other Inspector was too brutal for words! - I mean, absolute Third Degree! All about Stephen's filthy cigarette-case!"
"I'm surprised at Inspector Colwall!" said Hemingway truthfully. "What did you happen to do with the case, if you don't mind my asking?"