Blanca faced him frigidly.
“I have not the slightest wish to hear.”
Hughs looked round, as though to find something that would help him to proceed; his eyes lighted on Hilary's portrait.
“Ah! I'd put the two together if I was you,” he said.
Blanca walked past him to the door.
“Either you or I must leave the room.”
The man's face was neither sullen now nor passionate, but simply miserable.
“Look here, lady,” he said, “don't take it hard o' me coming here. I'm not out to do you a harm. I've got a wife of my own, and Gawd knows I've enough to put up with from her about this girl. I'll be going in the water one of these days. It's him giving her them clothes that set me coming here.”
Blanca opened the door. “Please go,” she said.
“I'll go quiet enough,” he muttered, and, hanging his head, walked out.