“Neither do I,” was her quick response.
“But, if I’m not mistaken, Mrs. Audley, you are acquainted with him,” I remarked.
“Well—yes—and no,” she said. “It is true that he thrusts himself upon me whenever he has the chance, and your back is turned. I’ve snubbed him a dozen times, but he is always lurking about.”
“Then you are not friendly with him?”
“On the contrary. I confess I don’t like him,” she answered quite frankly. Whereupon I resolved to try and catch him speaking with her and tell him what I thought of him.
“He’s a cad!” I declared. “He pretends to be a gentleman, but he does not behave like one.”
“You speak as though you are annoyed, Mr. Yelverton,” and she laughed lightly.
“I am. You are left in my care, Mrs. Audley. Your husband would be very angry if he knew that the fellow pestered you with his unwanted attentions, would he not?”
“I suppose he would,” she faltered.
“I wonder why we hear nothing from Stanley?” I said. “It is all very mysterious. Do you know that he is not employed by that electrical firm in Westminster? They know nothing of him!”