It was the image in her mind of a scornful and superior Jakes that excited the smile with which she looked up at Jakes' frightened wife.
"So long as he does n't bother me, he can inquire as much as he likes," she said.
Mrs. Jakes did not understand. "It 's you he 's going to inquire of," she said. "I suppose, of course--I suppose you 'll tell him about--about that night?"
"I shan't tell him anything," replied Margaret. "Oh, you needn't be afraid, Mrs. Jakes. I 'm not going to take this opportunity of punishing you for all your unpleasantness. I shall simply refuse to answer any questions at all."
"You can't do that." Mrs. Jakes showed her relief plainly in her face and in the relaxation of her attitude. She had forgotten one of the first rules of her manner of warfare, which is to doubt the enemy's word. But in spite of a reluctant gratitude for the contemptuous mercy accorded to her, she felt dully resentful at this high attitude of Margaret's towards the terrors of the police.
"You can't do that," she said. "He 's got a right to know--and he 's a sub-inspector. He 'll insist--he 'll make you tell--"
Mrs. Jakes broke off sharply as a hand without turned the handle of the door and pushed it open. Ford appeared, and paused at the sight of them in conversation.
Mrs. Jakes hesitated, but Margaret answered with decision.
"Not at all," she said. "Come in, please."
It occurred to her that the blow would be swifter if Ford himself were present when it fell and there were no muddle of explanations to drag it out.
Ford entered reluctantly, scenting a quarrel between the two and suspicious of Margaret's intentions in desiring his presence.
"There 's a horse and orderly by the steps," he said. "Is Van Zyl somewhere about? That's why I came in, to see if he was here."
"He--he is in the study," answered Mrs. Jakes, in extreme discomfort. She turned to Margaret. "If you will come now, I will take you to him."
"He--sent for you." Mrs. Jakes did not understand the question; she only perceived dimly that some quality in the situation was changed and that she no longer counted in it.
"But what the dickens did he do that for?" asked Ford.
"We 'll see," said Margaret, forestalling Mrs. Jakes' bewildered reply. "Please tell him, Mrs. Jakes, that I am here and can spare him a few minutes at once."