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Just ask your Alfred how much time he spends over there.' She was very

angry. Natural! I went on, 'I'm going to warn you, whether you like it or not.

That man would as soon murder you in your bed as look at you. He's a bad

lot. You can say what you like to me, but remember what I've told you. He's

a bad lot!'"

What did she say?"

Miss Howard made an extremely expressive grimace.

'Darling Alfred'--'dearest Alfred'--'wicked calumnies' --'wicked lies'--'wicked

woman'--to accuse her 'dear husband'! The sooner I left her house the

better. So I'm off."

But not now?"

This minute!"

For a moment we sat and stared at her. Finally John Cavendish, finding his

persuasions of no avail, went off to look up the trains. His wife followed him,

murmuring something about persuading Mrs. Inglethorp to think better of

it.

As she left the room, Miss Howard's face changed. She leant towards me

eagerly.

"Mr. Hastings, you're honest. I can trust you?"

I was a little startled. She laid her hand on my arm, and sank her voice to a

whisper.

"Look after her, Mr. Hastings. My poor Emily. They're a lot of sharks--all of

them. Oh, I know what I'm talking about. There isn't one of them that's not

hard up and trying to get money out of her. I've protected her as much as I

could. Now I'm out of the way, they'll impose upon her."

"Of course, Miss Howard," I said, "I'll do everything I can, but I'm sure you're

excited and overwrought."

She interrupted me by slowly shaking her forefinger.

"Young man, trust me. I've lived in the world rather longer than you have.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles