I have. [ no point in denying it. he lived with her, he has heard much worse from her on a variety of topics. ] You may attribute some of her more recent comments to attempting to throw hounds off the scent, if you like.

[ he looks at his glass, then at her, before pulling his chair closer to the table and his supper, taking up knife and fork. ]

No. Not particularly. I myself am not kind. She is-- as cats are.