Then the rest of the tale was told--and this time the whole of it. Ella heard of the stranger who had intruded on the pretence of seeking music lessons: of his fear of the seedy loafer in the street; of his undignified exit through the back door; and the whole of his singular behaviour.
"And you say he could play?"
"Play! He played like an--I was going to say an angel, but I'll substitute artist."
"And he looked like a gentleman?"
"Certainly, and spoke like one."
"But he didn't behave like one?"
"I won't go so far as to say that. He said or did nothing that was positively offensive when he was once inside the house."
"But you called him a thief?"
"Yes; but, mind you, I didn't think he was one. I felt so angry."
"I should think you did. I should have felt murderous. And you don't think the man in the road was a policeman?"