Part 25 (2/2)
I don't think at that time Melville completely grasped the fact that he had a companion. But presently his meditations were disturbed by her voice. He started.
”I beg your pardon,” he said.
”That Bunting woman is a fool,” repeated Lady Poynting Mallow.
There was a slight interval for consideration.
”She's an old friend of mine,” said Melville.
”Quite possibly,” said Lady Poynting Mallow.
The position seemed a little awkward to Melville for a moment. He flicked a fragment of orange peel into the road. ”I want to get to the bottom of all this,” said Lady Poynting Mallow. ”Who _is_ this other woman?”
”What other woman?”
”_Tertium quid_,” said Lady Poynting Mallow, with a luminous incorrectness.
”Mermaid, I gather,” said Melville.
”What's the objection to her?”
”Tail.”
”Fin and all?”
”Complete.”
”You're sure of it?”
”Certain.”
”How do you know?”
”I'm certain,” repeated Melville with a quite unusual testiness.
The lady reflected.
”Well, there are worse things in the world than a fishy tail,” she said at last.
Melville saw no necessity for a reply. ”H'm,” said Lady Poynting Mallow, apparently by way of comment on his silence, and for a s.p.a.ce they went on.
”That Glendower girl is a fool too,” she added after a pause.
My cousin opened his mouth and shut it again. How can one answer when ladies talk in this way? But if he did not answer, at any rate his preoccupation was gone. He was now acutely aware of the determined person at his side.
”She has means?” she asked abruptly.
”Miss Glendower?”
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