There was something so portentously solemn in his manner of speaking these last words that his listener quaked in terror, and gazed at him with widened eyes. Barrant turned abruptly to another phase.
"Are you quite sure that it was the man-servant you saw looking through the door yesterday afternoon?"
It was proof of the fallibility of human testimony that Mrs. Pendleton had sincerely convinced herself that she was quite sure. "Yes," she said.
Barrant looked doubtful. By reason of his calling he was well aware of the human tendency to unintentional mistake in identity. With women especially, the jump from an impression to a conclusion was sometimes as rapid as the thought itself.
"Only the eyes. But I am sure that they were Thalassa's eyes."
Barrant did not press the point. He did not doubt the honesty of her belief, but the words in which it was conveyed suggested hasty impression rather than conviction. Such proofs of identity were not to be relied upon.
"Had your brother's servant any reason, so far as you know, to be listening at the door?" he asked.
"All servants are curious," murmured Mrs. Pendleton. She shook her head wisely, as one intimating a wide knowledge of their class.
"All curious servants are not murderers," returned Barrant. "This man has been in your brother's service for a long time, has he not?"
"For a great number of years. Almost ever since Robert returned to England, I think."
"So Mr. Austin Turold informed me. Had he any grudge against his master?"
"Thalassa? I really couldn't tell you, because I do not know. But he has a most truculent and overbearing manner--not at all the kind of manner you expect in a servant, and he seemed to do just what he liked. I disliked him as soon as I saw him. I'm sure he looks more like some dreadful old sea pirate than a gentleman's servant. I would not have him in my household." Mrs. Pendleton set her lips firmly. "No, not for a single moment. But I suppose poor Robert was attached to him from long association."
Barrant nodded in an understanding way. "Then this man Thalassa must have known your niece from childhood," he said in a casual tone. "Was he attached to her, do you think?"
"That's rather a pity," he said with a gentle shake of the head. He looked at her knowingly.