The voice sprang from the corner I was facing as though it were a live
thing that had seized upon me. It was the voice of a woman, of great age
apparently, and yet it possessed a fierce, biting energy that no amount
of years could weaken.
"This is Mr. Gillingham," said my conductor with, I thought, a shade of
asperity. "Of course he's a lawyer."
To this there succeeded a silence, broken only by the sibilant drawing
in of the younger woman's breath.
"I am indeed a lawyer," I said at length. "In what way can I be of
service?"
"We see no one," said the imperious voice abruptly. "You must therefore
pardon the manner in which I have had you called in."