He nodded as though she had answered.
"V.A.D. and hard up, I suppose?"
"Did Mrs. Vandemeyer tell you that?" asked Tuppence suspiciously.
"No, child. The look of you told me. Good place here?"
"Very good, thank you, sir."
"Ah, but there are plenty of good places nowadays. And a change does no harm sometimes."
"Do you mean—?" began Tuppence.
But Sir James was already on the topmost stair. He looked back with his kindly, shrewd glance.