"Papa refuses to speak about it."
"Then why should I speak about it?" cried Daan Dercksz, put on his guard by Ina's slip of the tongue. "Why should I speak about it, Ina? There may be something ... business-matters, as you say ... but it'll be all right. Yes, really, Ina, don't alarm yourself: it's all right."
He took refuge in a feigned display of indignation, pretended to think her much too curious about those business-matters and scratched the back of his head.
Ina's eyes assumed their well-bred, weary expression:
"Uncle, other people's money-matters are le moindre de mes soucis.... I was only asking you for an explanation ... because of my love for my father."
"You're a good daughter to your father, we all know that, all of us.... Ah, there he is: he's ringing!"
And, before Anna had time to go to the door, he had let Harold Dercksz in.
"Do you mean to say that Dr. Roelofsz is dead?" asked Harold.
He had received Daan's note after Ina had gone out to take Lily's children to their great-great-grandmother.
"Yes," said Daan, "he's dead."