“Bannerlee’s mine. B-a-n-n—”
“Oh, that’s all right. I spelled mine out on account of these Americans. They think it’s funny to pronounce it ‘Beaver!’ ”
“Americans!”
“Why, you must be quite a stranger here. Didn’t you know—”
“I know nothing. I am indeed an utter stranger, save for being acquainted with Pendleton. You see that I’m rather the worse for wear; well, I’ve been running and scrambling and climbing all over Aidenn Forest to-day, and to cap the climax I fell into this Vale and blundered upon this house.”
“All over Aidenn Forest?”
“Yes, I am an antiquary of sorts.”
“Now, that’s very interesting, very interesting. Why, you may have—have you seen anyone?” There was a glimmer of excitement in his pale eyes.
Now suddenly it occurred to me that reticence might be useful in this mansion whereof I knew so little and that little full of perplexity.
“Why, what sort of person?”