“And what did Joan say?”
“She said that she did not love me, and that she never would love me nor marry me; but she said also that she had no thought for any other man.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Rock, but did this interview happen before Captain Graves and Joan Haste met with their accident in Ramborough Abbey? I want to fix the date, that’s all.”
“It happened on that same afternoon, sir. The Captain must have come along just after I left.”
And Samuel paused, passing his white hands over each other uneasily, as though he were washing them, for Mr. Levinger’s question seemed to suggest some new and unpleasant idea to his mind.
“Well?”
“Well, there isn’t much more to say, sir, except that I think I was a bit unlucky in the way I put it to her; for it slipped out of my mouth about her father never having had a name, and that seemed to anger her.”
“Perhaps it was not the best possible way to ingratiate yourself with the young woman,” replied Mr. Levinger sweetly. “So you came to no understanding with her?”
“Well, I did and I didn’t. I found out that she is afraid for her life of her aunt, who favours me; so I made a bargain with her that, if she would let the matter stand open for six months, I’d promise to say nothing to Mrs. Gillingwater.”
“I see: you played upon the girl’s fears. Doubtful policy again, I think.”