CHAPTER XXIIMiss Silver sat primly at the writing-table. An exercise-book with a bright green cover lay in front of her upon Mark’s blotting-pad. Mark himself sat facing her. Lydia lay back in the most comfortable of the chairs and looked on. The names of the Paradine family connection had been entered in the exercise-book, together with such facts as had been elicited about each. The circumstances surrounding the New Year’s Eve party and Mr Paradine’s death had been repeated.
Mark said abruptly,
‘We’re putting you to a lot of trouble. I think we should have waited until we had discussed the matter with the rest of the family. They may not feel——’
Miss Silver coughed.
‘You are not committing yourself to anything, Mr Paradine—that is understood. I should, naturally, regard anything you
