"Where is Mrs. Mortomley?" repeated Mr. Forde, evidently believing that iteration would bring him knowledge.
"At Mr. Werner's sir," Mr. Forde muttered an impatient oath.
"Where is that girl?—Esther, I mean."
Mr. Meadows went in search of her, and when she appeared, Mr. Forde remarked once again, that he wanted to see Mrs. Mortomley.
"She is not here, sir, she went away with Mrs. Werner yesterday."
"Yes, but she left Mrs. Werner's last night, and you know where she is now."
The arrow was shot at a venture, but it told. Esther coloured and looked confused.
"Come now, tell us where she is," said Mr. Forde in his mildest accents.
It was not of the slightest use trying to fence with the difficulty, so Esther grappled it.
"I do not know, sir," she answered; thinking she might as well tell a sufficient falsehood when she was about it.