Mrs. Solent’s dark-brown eyes glowed like the eyes of some excited wood-animal.

“ That man! Not that house, of all houses. You don’t mean⁠—” She broke off and stared at him intently, while an indescribable smile began to touch the corners of her mouth.

Then she leaned forward and rubbed her gloved hands together, while her cheeks glowed with mischief.

“Has the good man by any chance got a daughter called Mattie?”