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r information I haven't got any. If you want information, the right person to go to is her husband!"
"Her--her husband!" Mr. Slotman seemed to be choking.
"You seem surprised," said Lady Linden. "Well, so was I, but it is the truth. If you are interested in Miss Meredyth, the proper person to make enquiries of is Mr. Hugh Alston, of Hurst Dormer, Sussex. Now you know. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Slotman passed his hand across his forehead. This was unexpected, a blow that staggered him.
"You--you mean, your ladyship means that Miss Meredyth is recently married."
"Her ladyship means nothing of the kind," said Lady Linden tartly. "I mean that Miss Meredyth has for some very considerable time been Mrs. Hugh Alston. They were married, if you want to know--and I don't see why it should any longer be kept a secret--three years ago, in June, nineteen eighteen at Marlbury, Dorset, where my niece was at school with Miss Meredyth. Now you know all I know, and if you want any further information, apply to the husband."
"But--but," Slotman said, "I--" He was thinking. He was trying to reconcile what he had heard in his own office when he had spied on Hugh Alston and Joan, when on that occasion he had heard Hugh offer marriage to the girl as an act of atonement. How could he offer marriage if they were already married? There was something wrong, some mistake!
"But what?" snapped her ladyship, who had taken an exceeding dislike to the perspiring Mr. Slotman.
"Is your ladyship certain that they were married? I mean--" he fumbled and stammered.
Lady Linden pointed to the door. "Good afternoon!" she said. "I don't know what business it is of yours, and I don't care. All I know is that if Hugh Alston is a fool, he is not a knave, so you have my permission to retire."
Mr. Slotman retired, but it was not till some hours had passed that he finally left the neighbourhood of Cornbridge. He had been making discreet enquiries, and he found on every side t