“She didn’t know that Mr. Brett had gone away?”
It occurred to Mrs. Penfield that she had made a mistake in volunteering this information—a mistake due to the feminine desire to convey the impression that the subject of the photograph was in the habit of running after Mr. Brett.
“She wanted to know when he would be back,” she answered hastily.
“What is her name?” asked Crewe.
“Miss Maynard.”
“Is she Mr. Brett’s fiancée?”
“I have heard some people say that they are engaged, but I never heard Mr. Brett say so. At any rate, she doesn’t wear an engagement ring.”
“That seems to settle it,” said Crewe, who knew the value of sympathy in a jealous nature. “And this photograph, I presume, is one of Mr. Brett,” he added, pointing to a photograph of a young man which stood at the other end of the mantelpiece.
Mrs. Penfield nodded without speaking.
“Would you like to look at Mr. Brett’s bedroom?” she asked after a pause.