He was engaged to her.' Drake did not so much as stir a muscle, even his eyes maintained their steadiness, and Mr.Le Mesurier drew a breath of relief.

'I am glad you take it like this,' he went on.

'I was afraid that what I had to say might have been, well, perhaps a blow to you, and if so the fault would have been mine; for I encouraged you to come here.' Drake bent forward and knocked the ash off the end of his cigar.
'Yes,' he asked; 'why did you do that ?' Mr.Le Mesurier looked uncomfortable.
'It is only right that I should be frank with you,' he replied.

'The mere fact of Gorley's death, apart from its manner, upset Clarice, more, I confess, than we expected, and made her quite ill for a time.

She is not very strong, you know.