"What an odd
thing!" she exclaimed, and she did think it rather odd.
But Olivia Pendarth was a very honest woman--too honest, some people
might have said. "It was not exactly odd," she said quickly, "for, to
tell you the truth, I made it my business while there to make certain
enquiries about the Croftons. In fact, I partly went to Essex for that
purpose, though I did not tell my friends so."
The visitor felt rather shocked, as well as surprised. Surely Olivia
Pendarth's interest in her neighbours' concerns was, to say the least
of it, excessive. But the other's next words modified her censorious
thoughts.
"Colonel Crofton and one of my brothers were in the same regiment
together. I knew him quite well when he and I were both young, and when
Miss Crofton came to see her sister-in-law a fortnight ago, I offered to
make certain enquiries for her."
There was a touch of mystery, of hesitation in the older lady's voice,
and Janet Tosswill "rose" as she was perhaps meant to do. "What sort of
enquiries?" she asked. "I thought Miss Crofton was on the best of terms
with her sister-in-law."
"So she is; but she wanted to know more than Mrs. Crofton was inclined to
tell her about the circumstances--the really extraordinary circumstances,
Janet--concerning Colonel Crofton's death.
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