Very unselfishly she allowed her hostess to share the opera glass. For a minute there was a rustling silence.
"His dress," said Mrs. Mendham, "is quite respectable now."
"Quite," said Mrs. Jehoram.
Pause.
"He looks cross!"
"And his coat is dusty."
"He walks steadily enough," said Mrs. Mendham, "or one might think … This hot weather …"
Another pause.
"You see, dear," said Mrs. Jehoram, putting down the lorgnette. "What I was going to say was, that possibly he might be a genius in disguise."
"If you can call next door to nothing a disguise."
"No doubt it was eccentric. But I've seen children in little blouses, not at all unlike him. So many clever people are peculiar in their dress and manners. A genius may steal a horse where a bank-clerk may not look over the hedge. Very possibly he's quite well known
