It gave her an idea. She replied:
“So sorry. The St. John’s Wood dentist has made it impossible for me to appear in public for at least a month.”
She checked an impulse of laughter. She must keep hold on herself.
Olifant came in the afternoon. She told him of a communication she had received from her bank to the effect that Alexis had placed a large sum of money to her account. But she did not tell him of her meeting with Lydia.
“What’s to be done with the money? I don’t want it. It had better be retransferred.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” said Olifant.
He came back next morning. He had seen the manager of Triona’s bank. Nothing could be done. Alexis had drawn out his balance in cash and closed his account.
“Let things be—at any rate for the present,” Olifant counselled.
When he took his leave, he said, looking down on her from his lean height:
“I do wish you would come to Medlow.”