``He was complaining of rheumatism,'' continued Mrs.
Momeby, trying to throw a chilling inflection into a voice
that was already doing a good deal of sobbing and talking at
high pressure as well.
She was again interrupted.
``There is no such thing as rheumatism,'' said Miss
Gilpet. She said it with the conscious air of defiance that
a waiter adopts in announcing that the cheapest-priced
claret in the wine-list is no more. She did not proceed,
however, to offer the alternative of some more expensive
malady, but denied the existence of them all.
Mrs. Momebys temper began to shine out through her grief.
``I suppose you'll say next that Baby hasn't really
disappeared.''
``He has disappeared,'' conceded Miss Gilpet, ``but only
because you haven't sufficient faith to find him. It's only
lack of faith on your part that prevents him from being
restored to you safe and well.''
``But if he's been eaten in the meantime by a hy
na and
partly digested,'' said Clovis, who clung affectionately to
his wild beast theory, ``surely some ill-effects would be
noticeable?''
Miss Gilpet was rather staggered by this complication of
the question.
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