Conway," Mr. Tallboys said, after sitting for some minutes
in thought, "it is a matter that will require careful thinking over.
How long do you intend staying here?"
"Just as long as it is necessary," Mrs. Conway said, "a day or a
month. I have not given my own name at the 'George,' but shall be
known there as Mrs. Brown. As you saw, I sent my card in in an
envelope, so that even your clerk should not be aware that Mrs. Conway
was in Weymouth."
"But," the solicitor said suddenly, "surely the Miss Penfolds knew you
in the old time?"
"Certainly, they did. But, to begin with, that is nearly twenty years
ago; and, of course, I have changed very much since then."
"Not very much, Mrs. Conway," the lawyer said; "for I once had the
pleasure of seeing you when I went to the Hall to see Mr. Penfold on
business. I do not say that I should have known you anywhere, but
having had your card I remembered you at once when you came into the
room; and, indeed, if you will excuse my saying so, you might pass
anywhere as thirty."
"So much the better for my purpose at present," Mrs. Conway replied.
"Thirty will do very well for the age of a housemaid at the Hall. I
should imagine the Miss Penfolds would prefer a woman of that age to a
young girl; beside, you see, I must be an upper housemaid in order to
have charge of the part of the house I want to examine.
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