"I was restless," explained the lady hurriedly. "If I remained another minute among those women I should have screamed aloud. How peaceful you are here. Where is Mr. Brand?"
"Guess he's gone outside to squint at the weather. But come right in. I can offer you a chair. Mr. Brand wants to see you, and this is a quiet time for a chat."
"How does he know me? What did he say?"
Mrs. Vansittart pressed her left hand to her breast. With the other she kept the high collar over her mouth and cheeks. Pyne could only see her eyes, and the alarmed light that leaped into them increased his astonishment at her unexpected presence.
"It seems to me," he answered, "that if you just walk up four more steps and sit down you can ask him all those things yourself."
"Were you speaking of me to him."
"I did happen to mention you."
"And he said he knew me?"
"No, ma'am. He said nothing of the sort. But, for mercy's sake, what mystery is there about it?"
"Mystery! None whatever. I was mistaken. I have never met him. I came now to explain that to him. Oh—"