"She is fresh and ingenuous enough," said I, "to swallow any kind of plausible story. And her ingenuousness in writing you a full account of it is a proof."
"She has given the whole show away," said Jaffery. He smiled. "If Fendihook knew, he would be as sick as a dog."
"And the poor dear is so honest and truthful," said Barbara. "She thought she was doing the honourable thing in letting you know."
"No doubt modelling herself on Mrs. Jupp, late Considine," said I.
"Who let us know at the last minute," said Barbara with a quick knitting of the brow.
"Precisely," said I.
"Good Lord!" cried Jaffery. "Do you think she's gone off with the fellow already?"
"You had better ring up Queen's Gate and find out."
He rushed from the room. I hastily finished shaving, while Barbara discoursed to me on the neglect of our duties with regard to Liosha.
Presently Jaffery burst in like a rhinoceros.