But there, a gentleman isn't himself in his judgment when it comes to a young woman being in question. Young Mrs Jefferson, you see, whom he'd always depended upon a lot for sympathy, had changed a good deal this summer. He noticed it and he felt it badly.
He was fond of her, you see.
Mr Mark he never liked much."
Sir Henry interjected, "And yet he had him with him constantly?"
"Yes, but that was for Miss Rosamund's sake. Mrs Gaskell, that was.
She was the apple of his eye. He adored her.
Mr Mark was Miss Rosamund's husband. He always thought of him like that."
"Supposing Mr Mark had married someone else?"
"Mr Jefferson, sir, would have been furious."
Sir Henry raised his eyebrows.
"As much as that?"
"He wouldn't have shown it, but that's what it would have been."
"And if Mrs Jefferson had married again?"
"Mr Jefferson wouldn't have liked that either, sir."
"Please go on, Edwards."
"I was saying, sir, that Mr Jefferson fell for this young woman.
I've often seen it happen with the gentlemen I've been with.
Comes over them like a kind of disease. They want to protect the girl, and shield her, and shower benefits upon her, and nine times out often the girl is very well able to look after herself and has a good eye to the main chance."
"So you think Ruby Keene was a schemer?"
"Well, Sir Henry, she was quite inexperienced, being so young, but she had the makings of a very fine schemer indeed when she'd once got well into her swing, so to speak.
In another five years she'd have been an expert at the game."
Sir Henry said, "I'm glad to have your opinion of her.
It's valuable.
Now, do you recall any incidents in which this matter was discussed between Mr Jefferson and the members of his family?"
"There was very little discussion, sir.
Mr Jefferson announced what he had in mind and stifled any protests.
That is, he shut up Mr Mark, who was a bit outspoken.
Mrs Jefferson didn't say much - she's a quiet lady - only urged him not to do anything in a great hurry."
Sir Henry nodded. "Anything else? What was the girl's attitude?"
With marked distaste the valet said,
"I should describe it, Sir Henry, as jubilant."
"Ah, jubilant, you say?
You had no reason to believe, Edwards, that -" he sought about for a phrase suitable to Edwards - "that... er... her affections were engaged elsewhere?"
"Mr Jefferson was not proposing marriage, sir.
He was going to adopt her."
"Cut out the 'elsewhere' and let the question stand."
The valet said slowly,
"There was one incident, sir. I happened to be a witness of it."
"That is gratifying.
Tell me."
"There is probably nothing in it, sir.
It was just that one day, the young woman chancing to open her handbag, a small snapshot fell out.
Mr Jefferson pounced on it and said,
'Hullo, kitten, who's this, eh?'
"It was a snapshot, sir, of a young man, a dark young man with rather untidy hair, and his tie very badly arranged.
Miss Keene pretended that she didn't know anything about it.
She said, 'I've no idea, Jeffie. No idea at all.
I don't know how it could have got into my bag.
I didn't put it there.'"
"Now, Mr Jefferson, sir, wasn't quite a fool. That story wasn't good enough.