jade too. I know there is.”
The Judge was silent from exasperation for a few moments, then he snapped:
“Jade’s bright green.”
Owen, who had the ears of a lynx, had heard.
“What’s that?” he said.
“Surely there’s more than green jade!” said Kate.
“What!” cried Owen. “More! Why there’s every imaginable tint—white, rose, lavender—”
“And black?” said Kate.
“Black? Oh yes, quite common. Why you should see my collection. The most beautiful range of colour! Only green jade! Ha-ha-ha!”—and he laughed a rather stage laugh.
They had come to the stairs, which were old stone, waxed and polished in some way till they were a glittering black.
“I’ll catch hold of your arm down here,” said the Judge to young Henry. “This staircase is a death-trap.”
Mrs Norris heard without comment.