Capella brusquely interfered:
“Perhaps, Rita, these gentlemen would now like to make the explanation which you prevented.”
He moved towards the door. So that his wife could rest under no doubt as to his wishes, he held it open for her.
“No, no!” exclaimed Brett. “This matter concerns Mrs. Capella personally. You probably forget that we asked to be allowed to see her in the first instance, but you told us that she was too unwell to receive us.”
For an instant Margaret gazed at the Italian with imperious scorn. Then she deliberately turned her back on him, and seated herself close to her cousin.
Capella closed the door and walked to the library window.
Hume openly showed his pained astonishment at this little scene. Brett treated the incident as a domestic commonplace.
“The fact is,” he explained, “that your cousin, Mrs. Capella, has sought my assistance in order to clear his name of the odium attached to it by the manner of Sir Alan Hume-Frazer’s death. At my request he brought me here. In this house, in this very room, such an inquiry should have its origin, wherever it may lead ultimately.”
The lady’s cheeks became ashen. Her large eyes dilated.
“Is not that terrible business ended yet?” she cried. “I little dreamed that such could be the object of your visit, Davie. What has happened—”