"Just what she was before Mr.Feversham disappeared from Ramelton.

You are so quick, Colonel Durrance.

Ethne had good news of Mr.Feversham this morning." Durrance turned quickly towards her, and Mrs.Adair felt a pleasure at his abrupt movement.

She had provoked the display of some emotion, and the display of emotion was preferable to his composure.
"Are you quite sure ?" he asked.
"As sure as that you gave her the worst of news to-night," she replied.
But Durrance did not need the answer.

Ethne had made another slip that evening, and though unnoticed at the time, it came back to Durrance's memory now.