It wouldn't do at all.'
He reached for his cap, and an enormous pair of motoring gloves.
He threw his cigarette away on the drive.
'Goodbye,' he said, holding out his hand; 'it's been a lot of fun meeting you.'
'Goodbye,' I said.
'By the way,' he said carelessly, 'it would be very sporting and grand of you if you did not mention this little visit of mine to Max?
He doesn't exactly approve of me, I'm afraid; I don't know why, and it might get poor old Danny into trouble.'
'No,' I said awkwardly. 'No, all right.'
'That's very sporting of you.
Sure you won't change your mind and come for a run?'
'No, I don't think I will, if you don't mind.'
'Bye-bye, then.
Perhaps I'll come and look you up one day.
Get down, Jasper, you devil, you'll scratch my paint.
I say, I call it a damn shame Max going up to London and leaving you alone like this!'
'I don't mind.
I like being alone,' I said.
'Do you, by Jove?
What an extraordinary thing.
It's all wrong, you know.
Against nature.
How long have you been married? Three months, isn't it?'
'About that,' I said.
'I say, I wish I'd got a bride of three months waiting for me at home!
I'm a poor lonesome bachelor.'
He laughed again, and pulled his cap down over his eyes.
'Fare you well,' he said, starting up the engine, and the car shot down the drive snorting explosive fury from the exhaust, while Jasper stood looking after it, his ears drooping, his tail between his legs.
'Oh, come on, Jasper,' I said, 'don't be so idiotic' I walked slowly back to the house.
Mrs Danvers had disappeared.
I stood in the hall and rang the bell.
Nothing happened for about five minutes. I rang again.
Presently Alice appeared, her face rather aggrieved.
'Yes, Madam?' she said.
'Oh, Alice,' I said, 'isn't Robert there?
I rather fancied my tea out under the chestnut tree.'
'Robert went to the post this afternoon, and isn't back yet, Madam,' said Alice.
'Mrs Danvers gave him to understand you would be late for tea.
Frith is out too of course.
If you want your tea now I can get it for you.
I don't think it's quite half past four yet.'
'Oh, it doesn't matter, Alice. I'll wait till Robert comes back,' I said.
I supposed when Maxim was away things automatically became slack.
I had never known Frith and Robert to be out at the same time.
It was Frith's day of course.
And Mrs Danvers had sent Robert to the post.
And I myself was understood to have gone for a long walk.
That man Favell had chosen his time well to pay his call on Mrs Danvers.
It was almost too well chosen.
There was something not right about it, I was certain of that.
And then he had asked me not to say anything to Maxim.