"Please go away now.

I have a dressmaker coming to see me." I turned away, but I had scarcely gone half a dozen paces before she called me back.
"Capitaine Rotherby," she said, "there is something to tell you." I waited expectantly.
"Yes ?" I murmured.
She avoided meeting my eyes.
"You need not trouble any further about my uncle," she said.

"He has returned." "Returned!" I exclaimed.

"When ?" "A very short time ago," she answered.

"He is very unwell.