"But she might have been a lady."

"I'm sure I don't know."

"Don't you know _anything_ about her?"

"Except that she's trustworthy--and insignificant and not too good at
her business."

"I shouldn't think you could afford to keep incompetent people," said
the girl shrewdly.

"Perhaps they won't keep her," parried Norman gracefully. "The head
clerk looks after those things."

"He probably likes her."

"No," said Norman, too indifferent to be cautious. "She has no
'gentlemen friends.'"

"How do you know that?" said the girl, and she could not keep a certain
sharpness out of her voice.

"Tetlow, the head clerk, told me. I asked him a few questions about her.
I had some confidential work to do and didn't want to trust her without
being sure."

He saw that she was now prey to her jealous suspicion. He was uncertain
whether to be amused or irritated. She had to pause long and with
visible effort collect herself before venturing: