‘I don’t believe,’ Tietjens said, ‘that Sylvia’s said anything to Lady Claudine…She’s too straight.’
‘I didn’t say “said,”‘ the General exclaimed, ‘I particularly said “let drop.” And perhaps I oughtn’t to have said as much as that, but you know what devils for ferreting out women are. And Claudine’s worse than any woman I ever knew…’
‘And, of course, she’s had Sandbach to help,’ Tietjens said.
‘Oh, that fellow’s worse than any woman,’ the General exclaimed.
‘Then what does the whole indictment amount to?’ Tietj ens asked.
‘Oh, hang it,’ the General brought out, ‘I’m not a beastly detective, I only want a plausible story to tell Claudine. Or not even plausible. An obvious lie as long as it shows you’re not flying in the face of society—as walking up the Haymarket with the little Wanno
