It was the first time he had relaxed even so far as this.
"I am not in possession of any information which I can impart to you, Lady Cranston," he said, "but I am not prepared to accept your statement that Dreymarsh contains nothing of greater interest than the things which you have mentioned." There was no necessity for Philippa to play a part now.

The suggestion contained in her visitor's words had really left her in a state of wonder.
"You are making my flesh creep!" she exclaimed.

"You don't mean to say that we have secrets here ?" "I have said the last word which it is possible for me to say upon the subject," he declared.

"You will understand, I am sure, that I am not here in the character of an inquisitor.

I simply thought it my duty, in view of the fact that you had made yourself the social sponsor for Mr.Lessingham, to place certain information before you, and to ask, unofficially, of course, if you have any explanation to give?
You may even," he went on, hesitatingly, "appreciate the motives which led me to do so." "My dear man, what explanation could I have ?" Philippa protested, "it is an absolute and undeniable fact that Mr.Lessingham was at Magdalen with my brother, and also that he visited us at Wood Norton.