“Oh, no! She has gone abroad. One does not like losing the only friend one has in London.”
He leaned forward with a gesture of protest.
“Now you have hurt me.”
“Hurt you, Mr. Massinger!”
“I thought that I was becoming something of a friend.”
She made herself look at him with frank, calm eyes.
“It had not occurred to me. I really am very much obliged to you. Shall I begin to read out my notes?”
He did not answer for a moment, but remained looking at her with sentimental solemnity.
“My dear lady, you will not put me off like that. I am much too sympathetic to be repulsed so easily. I don’t like to see you sad. Adolf shall make coffee, and we will give up work this afternoon and chatter. You shall discover a friend——”
She said, very quietly: