Gridley answered eagerly:
“I spoke up for you, my lady. I told him that when you lowered his father’s rent three years ago it was understood that you were not responsible for the outside repairs.”
“Which is perfectly true.”
Gridley continued with less restraint, perceiving, possibly, that a little warmth of speech might be deemed pardonable:
“With that he flies out at me, my lady. I’d be ashamed to repeat his language to your ladyship. I aim to keep a clean tongue in my head, I do.”
John interpolated quickly:
“Only when talking to her ladyship.”
“Silence, please.” She shot a disdainful glance at John and turned once more to her bailiff. Her voice became velvety.
“Tell me what John Exton said with—a—decent reservations.”
Gridley began to inflate, striking an attitude and speaking in a loud, derisive tone: