'Yes,' I helped him out, my interest rising. Had he anything to communicate to me on that subject?
The young man went on, staring at the ground between his knees, and it occurred to me that his profile was very like Granville Barker's. 'I am told,' he said, in grave, quick, low tones, 'that you are saying things about him rather indiscriminately. Bringing, in fact, charges against him—suspicions, rather…. I hardly think you can be aware of the seriousness of such irresponsible gossip, such—I can't call it anything but slander—when it is widely circulated. How it grows—spreads from person to person—the damage, the irreparable damage it may do….'
He broke off incoherently, and was silent. I confess I was taken aback.
But I stood to my guns.
'And,' I said, 'if the irresponsible gossip, as you call it, happens to be true, Mr. Juke? What then?'
'Then,' he said abruptly, and looked me in the face, 'then, Lady Pinkerton, Gideon should be called on to answer to the charge in a court of law, not libelled behind his back.'
'That,' I said, 'will, I hope, Mr. Juke, happen at the proper time. Meanwhile, I must ask to be allowed to follow my own methods of investigation in my own way. Perhaps you forget that the matter concerns the tragic death of my very dear son-in-law. I cannot be expected to let things rest where they are.'
'I suppose,' he said, rising as I rose, 'that you can't.'
'And,' I added, as a parting shot, 'it is always open to Mr. Gideon to bring a libel action against any one who falsely and publicly accuses him—if he likes.'
'Yes,' assented the young man.
I left him standing there, and turned away to speak to Mrs. Creighton, who was passing.