He said, “Oh, yes,” in an indifferent tone.

“All right. And then we’ll have tea. So long.”

He watched her go with a curious feeling of relief. There was going to be a whole hour in which nothing would be expected of him. He needn’t talk, make love, or abstain from making love. His feeling was very much like that with which one sometimes sees one’s guests depart. Their presence may have been welcome, their company enjoyed, but there is something about having your house to yourself again. Only when he did have it to himself there was always the possibility that the welcome solitude would be invaded by an unlaid ghost-Marjory’s step on the stair… her laughter, and her tears… her failing voice: “No-no-I’ll never tell you his name. I don’t want you to kill him. No, Carr-no!”

A real voice broke in upon his mood. He glanced up with the quick nervous frown so like Rietta’s and saw Mr. Holderness looking benevolent. One of his earliest recollections was the benevolence of Mr. Holderness accompanied by a half-crown tip. As far as Carr could see, he hadn’t changed a bit-dignified presence, florid complexion, kindly gaze, and rich rolling voice-general slight flavour of the eighteenth century from which his office with its Georgian panelling had never emerged. The firm had ranked as old-fashioned county solicitors then, and the tradition had been maintained ever since. He clapped Carr on the shoulder and enquired whether he was down for long.

“Rietta will be glad to have you. How is she? Not working too hard, I hope. Last time I saw her I thought she was looking as if she had been overdoing it, and she told me she couldn’t get any help in the garden.”

“No, she’s had to give up the vegetables. She hasn’t much help in the house either-only Mrs. Fallow for a couple of hours twice a week. I think she does do too much.”

“Take care of her, my boy, take care of her. Good people are scarce, and she won’t look after herself-women never will. Between ourselves, they’ve every virtue except common sense. But don’t say I said so. No witnesses, you know, and I shall deny it-I shall deny it!” He let out a fine reverberant laugh. “Well, well, I mustn’t stay gossiping. I’ve been in court all day, and I must get on to the office. By the way, I hear James Lessiter is back. Have you seen him at all?”