“I shall answer it myself,” said Lucy. “Clementina is busy, and, besides, the sight of all these legal functionaries would terrify her out of her wits.”
The others all followed in her train, Hugh clinging to his mother’s skirts.
“There has been something wrong over at Number 14, ma’am,” the policeman explained. “Their servant has run away with some property. We understand she was in your service before she entered Mrs. Marvel’s, and we want you to kindly answer a few questions about her—if you can.”
“I will tell you all I can,” returned Lucy.
“Thank you, ma’am. Was the girl Jane Smith long in your service?”
Lucy considered. “Only for about five months,” she said, “a little more I think.”
He made a note in his book.
“Where did you get her from, ma’am? Excuse me.”
“I got her through a registry office,” Lucy replied, naming it.
“Took her in a hurry, without any references perhaps, ma’am,” observed the inspector.