"And she's not come back? The maid's never come back?"
"Of course not. You do so misunderstand her—Mrs. Armine."
Isaacson said nothing. He felt that a stroke of insincerity was wanted here, but something that seemed outside of his will forbade him to give it.
"That is what has caused all this," continued Hartley. "I shouldn't really have objected to a consultation so much, if it had come about naturally. But no medical man—you spoke very seriously of the case just now."
"I think very seriously of it."
"So do I, of course."
Doctor Hartley pursed his lips.
"Of course. I saw from the first it was no trifle."
Isaacson said nothing.
"I say, I saw that from the first."