Had they heard aright?
Was this the recklessness of nervous excitement in a woman of delicate health, or had the impostor cast some glamour upon her?
Or was she frightened of Sam Barstow and afraid to reject his candidate?
The last thought was an inspiration.

He drew her quickly aside.

"One moment, Mrs.Martin! You said to me an hour ago that you didn't intend to have asked Mr.Barstow to send you an assistant.

I hope that, merely because he HAS done so, you don't feel obliged to accept this man against your better judgment ?" "Oh no," said Mrs.Martin quietly.
The case seemed hopeless.

And Sperry had the miserable conviction that by having insisted upon Mrs.Martin's judgment being final they had estopped their own right to object.