But as it happens that judge
who came to Ballymoy the other day turned out to be Miss King's uncle,
and he's quite determined to see this business through. I was telling
him about it this morning. I pledged my word to have you on the spot
this afternoon, and to get the whole thing settled before dinner."
"But this is utterly ridiculous. I've only spoken to the woman three
times in my life."
"A good deal can be done in three interviews," said Meldon. "In this
case it appears that a good deal has been done. I don't profess to
know exactly what you said to Miss King--"
"I never said anything to her."
"Do you mean to assert that you went through three interviews without
uttering a single word."
"Of course not. What I mean to say is--"
"Now you're beginning to hedge," said Meldon, "and that's a bad sign,
an uncommonly bad sign. No man hedges in that sort of way unless he
has something to conceal. It's perfectly plain to me that you said a
good deal to Miss King. Anyhow, she evidently thinks you did. She
told the whole story to the judge last night, and he spoke to me about
it this morning."
"Told what story?"
"Your story.
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