Mr.Townlinson was impressed by the fact that it was at once unmistakably evident that whatsoever her reason for coming, she had not presented herself to ask irrelevant or unreasonable questions.

Lady Anstruthers, she explained without superfluous phrase, had no definite knowledge of her husband's whereabouts, and it had seemed possible that Messrs.

Townlinson & Sheppard might have received some information more recent that her own.
The impersonal framing of this inquiry struck Mr.Townlinson as being in remarkably good taste, since it conveyed no condemnation of Sir Nigel, and no desire to involve Mr.Townlinson in expressing any.

It refrained even from implying that the situation was an unusual one, which might be open to criticism.

Excellent reserve and great cleverness, Mr.
Townlinson commented inwardly.