‘It needn’t necessarily have been a cat, but something would have had to be killed,—how are you going to illustrate the death-dealing propensities of a weapon of that sort without it?’
‘Is it possible that you imagine that I came here to see something killed?’
‘Then for what did you come?’
I do not know what there was about the question which was startling, but as soon as it was out, she went a fiery red.
‘Because I was a fool.’
I was bewildered. Either she had got out of the wrong side of bed, or I had,—or we both had. Here she was, assailing me, hammer and tongs, so far as I could see, for absolutely nothing.
‘You are pleased to be satirical at my expense.’
‘I should not dare. Your detection of me would be so painfully rapid.’
I was in no mood for jangling. I turned a little away from her. Immediately she was at my elbow.
‘Mr Atherton?’