"Sorry you catch me like this, Elsie," he said, with a little laugh…. "No, I'll take them out; then we'll go for a walk, if you like…."
He carried out the tray, and then began to show Miss Bengough round his flat. She made few comments. In the kitchen she asked what an old faded square of reddish frieze was, that Mrs. Barrett used as a cushion for her wooden chair.
"That? I should be glad if you could tell me what it is," Oleron replied as he unfolded the bag and related the story of its finding in the window-seat.
"I think I know what it is," said Miss Bengough. "It's been used to wrap up a harp before putting it into its case."
"By Jove, that's probably just what it was," said Oleron. "I could make neither head nor tail of it…."
They finished the tour of the flat, and returned to the sitting-room.
"And who lives in the rest of the house?" Miss Bengough asked.
"I dare say a tramp sleeps in the cellar occasionally. Nobody else."
"Hm!… Well, I'll tell you what I think about it, if you like."
"I should like."