“Ah, my boy!” said Phineas, reflecting that Aubrey had always been an objectionable young detrimental. “There are many questions upon which an older head can come to the help of a young one.”
“Uncle’s mixed his dates,” remarked Conrad. “Ray’s going on for forty. Incidentally, he’s been managing the estate for the past ten years.”
“Try again, Uncle,” recommended Eugene, with drawling insolence. “We wouldn’t know why you want to see Ray, of course.”
Chairman fixed her uncle with a penetrating gaze. “Come now!” she said briskly. “I don’t believe in beating about the bush! Just what brought you up here yesterday to see Father, Uncle? That’s a question which is interesting us a good deal.”
Delia made an inarticulate sound, and looked imploringly towards her brother. He pressed his fingertips together, perhaps to control their slight unsteadiness, and replied smilingly: “I am afraid my errand to your dear father was sadly unexciting. Tut, tut! You silly child, have you been picturing a mystery? The influence of the modern crime novel!”
“I never read them.”
He passed his tongue between his lips. “Well, well! And so you want to know why I came to see my old friend! My dear, if it interests you so much, of course you may know: I came to seek his advice in the matter of a little land deal which I have in contemplation. Now you will all say how dull!”
“I wasn’t going to,” said Aubrey. “I mean, dull isn’t the word that actually leaped to my tongue. But perhaps I’d better not say what that was.”
“Mendacious,” suggested Eugene. “No, adroit.”
Phineas decided to remain deaf to this. Still smiling, he said: “And did you foolish young people really think that I might have had something to do with your father’s death? I ought to be cross with you, but I know so well what tricks overwrought nerves can play with one that I can forgive you.”