Page:HG Wells--secret places of the heart.djvu/293

Rh gave him some. She fussed about with cream and cakes and biscuits. He noted a crumpled letter thrust under the edge of the silver tray.

“He talked, I know, very intimately with you,” she said, coming to it at last. “He probably went into things with you that he never talked about with anyone else. Usually he was very reserved, Even with me there were things about which he said nothing.”

“We did,” said Dr. Martineau with discretion, “deal a little with his private life.

“There was someone——”

Dr. Martineau nodded and then, not to be too portentous, took and bit a biscuit.

“Did he by any chance ever mention someone called Martin Leeds?”

Dr. Martineau seemed to reflect. Then realizing that this was a mistake, he said: “He told me the essential facts.”

The poor lady breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad,” she said simply. She repeated, “Yes, I’m glad. It makes things easier now.”

Dr. Martineau looked his enquiry.

“She wants to come and see him.”

“Here?”

“Here! And Helen here! And the servants noticing everything! I’ve never met her. Never set eyes on her. For all I know she may want to make a scene.” There was infinite dismay in her voice.