'Indeed!' he said. 'And who may this lady be?'
'You had better ask her. She will be able to tell you better than I can. I am so stupid that I'm quite unable to understand.'
When he came in, the lady, who had been asking me questions, had moved a little to one side. I stood up and faced him. Although he was so big and tall, and quite the great gentleman, somehow I was not half so afraid as I had expected to be. I gave him look for look.
'You wish to see me?'
'Yes, sir.'
'In private?'
'That, sir, is for you to say.' The young lady put in a word.
'I don't think, Douglas, that any privacy is necessary. Mrs. Merrett merely wishes to ask you a plain and simple question.'
He repeated my name.
'Merrett? Merrett? Are you Mrs. Merrett?'