"Come in, sir, come in."
Before he realised what had taken place he stood in the entrance hall, and the door closed behind him.
"Are you come for good?"
The housekeeper's voice was tremulous with excitement, and her eyes were eagerly fastened on his face.
Dick shook his head. "No, I'm only here for a few minutes."
"But he's dead."
"Who's dead?"
"That man. The man Riggleton. Haven't you heard about it?"
"No, I've not heard."
"But there were rumours, and I thought you'd come to tell me they were true. Oh, I am sorry, so sorry. I should love to have you here as master again. It was such a joy to serve you. And that man, he nearly drove me mad. He brought bad people here. He filled the house with a lot of low men and women. And there were such goings on. I stood it as long as I could, and then I told him I must leave the house at once. So did several of the servants. He begged me to stop, he offered to double my wages, but I told him I must go, that I was a respectable woman, and had served only gentry who knew how to behave themselves. Then he said he would leave himself, and he persuaded me to stay on. Didn't you hear, sir?"