He'd 'ad a bit of shock
before you come in, sir."
"Yes?" murmured P. Sybarite absently.
"Yes, sir; a bit of a shock, owin' to 'is 'avin' quarrelled with Mr.
Bayard, sir."
"Oh!" P. Sybarite roused. "Quarrelled with his son, you say?"
"Yes, sir; somethin' dreadful they was goin' on. 'E couldn't 'ave got
over it when you come. Mr. Bayard 'adn't been gone, not more than
five minutes, sir."
P. Sybarite interrogated with his eyes alone.
"It was a bit odd, come to think of it--the 'ole affair, sir. Must
'ave been over an hour ago, Mr. Shaynon 'ere, 'e come 'ome alone from
the dance--I see you must've been there yourself, sir, if I m'y mike
so bold as to tike notice of your costume. Very fawncy it is, too,
sir--becomes your style 'andsome, it does, sir."
"Never mind me. What happened when Mr. Shaynon came home?"
"W'y, 'e 'adn't more than got inside the 'ouse, sir, w'en a lidy
called on 'im--a lidy as I 'ad never set eyes on before, sime as in
your caise, sir; although I wouldn't 'ave you think I mean she was of
your clawss, sir. 'Ardly. Properly speakin', she wasn't a lidy at
all--but a woman. I mean to s'y, a bit flash."
"I understand you. Go on."
"Well, sir, I didn't 'ave a chance to over'ear w'at 'er business were,
but it seemed to work on Mr. Brian there somethin' 'orrid. They was
closeted in the library upstairs not more than twenty minutes, and
then she went, and 'e rung for me and to bring 'im brandy and not
delay about it.
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