The incident of the person she had detected looking through the door took on a new significance as she related it.

By her constant association of the eyes with the disliked face of her brother's servant, she had unconsciously reached the conclusion that she had all along recognized the eavesdropper as Thalassa.
"You say your brother was talking about some family matters at the time ?" asked Inspector Dawfield, as she related that part of her story.
"Yes," responded Mrs.Pendleton.She had repressed all mention of her brother's announcement of his daughter's illegitimacy, but afterwards she tried to persuade herself that it slipped her memory at the time.
"It's common enough for servants to listen at doors," remarked Inspector Dawfield.

"In this case it may seem to have a sinister interpretation because of what happened afterwards.

How long has this man been in your brother's employ ?" "A number of years, I believe," replied Mrs.Pendleton.

"But he has a wicked face," she added hastily, as though that fact cancelled a record of lengthy service.