"I only saw her for a moment," he answered evasively. "She seemed rather overdone."
"But who's looking after her?"
"Nobody much at present. That was what Violet came about: she'd been to see her and thought it would be more comfortable if she were moved into a nursing home."
Nature must compensate the blind by developing their other qualities. Though he could not see George's studiedly non-committal face, O'Rane divined something hidden from him in the easily reassuring voice.
"Old man, I don't think that's the whole story, is it?" he asked with persuasive gentleness. "The nursing-home rather gives you away. Has Sonia got to have an operation?"
"There's no suggestion of it! Violet says it's nothing out of the ordinary."
"Then why a nursing-home?"
"Because she wants rather more attention than she's likely to get in her present quarters. But there's not the slightest need for you to worry yourself."
O'Rane began to pace up and down the room, chewing his lips.
"She must come here, of course," he said at length.