For instance, there was the Countess de Santiago's reference to their
association on board the _Monarchic_, which Knight had refrained from
mentioning. He had spoken of it after the Countess had gone, to be sure;
but briefly, and because it would have seemed odd if he had not done so.
It had struck Annesley that his annoyance with the lady was connected
with that sharp little "dig" of hers, and she could not sweep her mind
clean of curiosity.
The moment the _Monarchic's_ name was brought up she remembered reading
a newspaper paragraph about the last voyage of that great ship from New
York to Liverpool. Fortunately or unfortunately, her recollection of the
paragraph was nebulous, for when she read news aloud to her mistress she
permitted her mind to wander, unless the subject happened to be
interesting. She tried to keep up a vaguely intelligent knowledge of
world politics, but small events and blatant sensations, such as murders,
burglaries, and "society" divorces, she quickly erased from her brain.
Something dramatic had occurred on the _Monarchic_. Her subconscious self
recalled that. But it was less than a month ago that she had read the
paragraph, therefore the sensation, whatever it was, must have happened
when Knight and the Countess de Santiago were on board, coming to
England, and she could easily learn what it was by inquiring.
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