Katherine followed after, drawn as if by the sense of something pending, something too interesting to miss.
Madam Crewe glanced around as the doctor entered.
"Oho, so you're back, are you?"
Dr. Ballard took a chair without waiting to be invited and said lightly, as he seated himself facing his patient:
"You speak the truth."
The old woman raised her chin. "Thank you, young man. You flatter me!"
"Not in the least," came the prompt retort. "I haven't come with any such intention. I've come—and I may as well out with it at once—I've come to tell you that I have found the reason for your dislike of 'the Ballard tribe.' I've discovered the case you have against us. I've been ferreting about among my grandfather's effects, and I've unearthed his Journal. Curious, isn't it, that a bailiff should have kept a Journal?"
Madam Crewe deigned no response.
After a pause lasting several seconds, Dr. Ballard continued: "I presume you would feel seriously affronted if I were to take the liberty of supposing you might be interested."
"Fudge! Have you the Journal there?"