"Damn!" he ejaculated below his breath. "Who told you Coventry was back?"
he went on in an expressionless voice.
Lady Susan chuckled and tried to restrain the Irish terrier's manifest
intention of leaping on to her lap.
"My dear boy, haven't you learned yet that nothing takes place in a tiny
village like Silverquay without everybody's knowing all about it--and a
little more, too! The comings and goings of an important personage like the
owner of Heronsmere certainly wouldn't be allowed to pass without comment."
Here she quieted the Irishman's misplaced exuberance with a lump of sugar.
"Through the comparatively direct channel of my maid, who had it from Mrs.
Thorowgood, the laundress, who had it from the unsullied fount of Maria
Coombe herself, I've even received the additional information that Mr.
Coventry paid a long visit to Oldstone Cottage yesterday."
"He probably would," returned Brett. "After being away nearly three weeks
he'd naturally want to see his agent."
"Only," remarked Lady Susan reflectively, "it appears that he must have
gone to see his agent's sister. Robin was in Ferribridge yesterday. I met
him just setting off there, and he said he'd got a long afternoon's work in
front of him.
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