"Thank you; I'm glad she didn't stay."
"I thought you would be. She asked me if I was the servant. I don't think she liked the look of me."
There was something in his attitude which suggested that he was expecting her to leave the room, and would have liked her to. When she showed no sign of going he commented on her last remark.
"That was rather bad taste on her part."
"Wasn't it?"
Having done with the telegram, he began to examine the letters. She watched him with an expression in her pale blue eyes which, if he had been conscious of it, might have startled him. It was plain from his manner that he intended to offer her no encouragement either to continue the conversation or to remain in the room. After a perceptible interval, she said, with an abruptness which was a little significant:
"I was at the inquest."
He glanced up.
"You were where? At the inquest? Oh! What was the attraction? And how did you get in?"
"I believe the public are admitted to inquests. They're supposed to be public inquiries, aren't they? Also, I had a friend at court; and, anyhow, I wasn't the only person there. I suppose Miss Patterson is a rich woman now."