Part 41 (1/2)
”And what is she ferreting round for now?”
”Yes, what on earth is she ferreting round for in the Hague?”
And they ferreted round for what she was ferreting round for in the Hague. They ferreted very deep, very far, after the brilliant cross-fire; they dug up, among themselves, all the sand of their suspicions and flung it about one another's ears:
”They had a very expensive establishment abroad and were unable to keep it going any longer.”
”She wants to be near her mother because she's afraid that, when the mother dies, there will be trouble about the will.”
”It was he who wanted to come back, for the sake of an old mistress of his.”
”She wants to go to Court.”
”No, it's he who wants to go to Court.”
”Yes, they both want to go to Court.”
”She wants to go to Court....”
”She wants to go to Court....”
”She wants to go to Court....”
”But what a piece of impudence!”
”Even if she was in that set once....”
”That is no reason....”
”Why she should dream....”
”Of being presented....”
”Now....”
”Well, you'll see: this winter....”
”She wants to go to Court....”
”To Court....”
”But that's not the only reason.”
”No, he too is afraid that his parents will disinherit him, as far as they can....”
”And now he proposes....”
”To soften them, by means of the child....”
”Which isn't even his!”