"Pray be seated," said the little woman: "You will understand,
I'm sure, that ay am not in the habit of taking in paying guests,
but may husband being at the front, ay have a bedroom and this
sitting-room free and ay thought..."
She stopped and looked sharply at Desmond.
"You are an officer, I think" she asked.
Desmond bowed.
"May husband is also an officer," replied the woman, "Captain
Viljohn-Smythe; you may have met him. No? Of course, had you not
been of commissioned rank, ay should not..."
She trailed off vaguely.
Desmond inquired her terms and surprised her somewhat by
accepting them on the spot.
"But you have not seen the bedroom!" protested Mrs.
Viljohn-Smythe.
"I will take it on trust," Desmond replied, "and here," he added,
pulling out his note-case, "is a week's rent in advance. I'll go
along now and fetch my things. By the way," he went on, "I know
some people here at Campden Hill but very foolishly, I've mislaid
the address. Malplaquet... Mrs. Malplaquet. Do you happen to know
her house"
"Ay know most of the naice people living round about here,"
replied the lady, "but for the moment, ay cannot recollect... was
it one of the larger houses on the hill, do you know?"
"I'm afraid I don't know," said Desmond.
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