CHAPTER 39Miss Silver made her farewells. Chief Inspector Lamb paid a state call upon her before returning to London, remarking that they didn’t live so far from each other in town, but they generally seemed to meet in the country.
Miss Silver coughed, smiled, and enquired after his family in detail.
“I hope Mrs. Lamb is very well?... I am so glad. Last time we met she had had a troublesome cough. I hope it has quite gone?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“And the daughters? Lily is very happily married, I know. Her baby was a boy, was it not? He must be seven months old.”
Lamb’s official manner was thawing fast. His daughters had always done what they liked with him. He said,
“Nearly eight months, but you’d think he was quite a year. Lil says he’s like me.”
“How very delightful. And Violet?”
“G
