‘But you did’t find out the woman’s name?’ she said.
‘I’m afraid not. Only that she came from Hampshire.’
‘Well, I shall spend the morning,’ said Miss Halcombe,
‘looking through my mother’s letters. I’m sure I will find some
clues there to explain this mystery. Lunch is at two o’clock, Mr
Hartright, and I shall introduce you to my sister then.’
After breakfast Mr Fairlie’s personal servant, Louis,came to
tell me that Mr Fairlie would like to see me. I followed the
servant upstairs and was shown into a large room full of art
treasures. There,in an armchair,sat a small,pale,delicate-looking
man of about fifty. Despite his fine clothes and the valuable
rings on his soft white fingers, there was something very
unattractive about him.
‘So glad to have you here, Mr Hartright,’ he said in a high,
complaining voice. ‘Please sit down , but don’t move the chair.
In my state of nerves any movement is painful to me. May I ask
if you have found everything satisfactory here at Limmeridge?’
When I began to reply,he at once raised his hand to stop me.
‘Please excuse me. But could you speak more softly? I samply
cannot bear loud voices, or indeed,any kind of loud sound.’
The interview did not last long as Mr Fairlie quickly lost
interest in it. He informed me that the ladies would make all the
arrangements for their drawing lessons.