"Well?"

"Her name was Meredyth, Miss Joan Meredyth."

"I don't want to hear anything at all about her," said Lady Linden. "Why
you come to me, goodness only knows. If you've come for information I
haven't got any. If you want information, the right person to go to is
her husband!"

"Her--her husband!" Mr. Slotman seemed to be choking.

"You seem surprised," said Lady Linden. "Well, so was I, but it is the
truth. If you are interested in Miss Meredyth, the proper person to make
enquiries of is Mr. Hugh Alston, of Hurst Dormer, Sussex. Now you know.
Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Slotman passed his hand across his forehead. This was unexpected, a blow
that staggered him.

"You--you mean, your ladyship means that Miss Meredyth is recently
married."

"Her ladyship means nothing of the kind," said Lady Linden tartly. "I
mean that Miss Meredyth has for some very considerable time been Mrs.
Hugh Alston. They were married, if you want to know--and I don't see why
it should any longer be kept a secret--three years ago, in June,
nineteen eighteen at Marlbury, Dorset, where my niece was at school with
Miss Meredyth. Now you know all I know, and if you want any further
information, apply to the husband."