"Ah!" said Hassell with ironical eyebrows.
"I will tell her about them."
"Thank you," said Hassell, bowing them out.
George Deaves didn't say much on the way home, but Evan was aware that his attitude had changed. There were no more accusations. Clearly Deaves had been impressed by the fact that the interview with Hassell had turned out exactly as Evan had foretold.
Simeon Deaves was still shuffling around the library in his slippers. "Well?" he demanded.
His son briefly told him what had occurred.
The old man was in a very bad temper. "Yah! let him pull wool over your eyes!" he cried. "All a pack of thieves together! Artists never have any money! And this one knows more than he lets on. He's too smart by half! You mark my words!"
"Please go outside," the much-tried George said to Evan. "Wait in the hall."
Evan obeyed with a shrug. Outside the softly-stepping Alfred was loitering suspiciously. He approached Evan.
"Something doing to-day, eh?" he said with his obsequious-impudent leer. "Where did you two go?"