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How does Lombard respond to Vera's question about her new employer in And Then There Were None?
Quick answer:
When Vera asks Lombard about their new employer in "And Then There Were None," he avoids answering directly, as he, too, has never met the Owens. To divert the conversation, Lombard feigns concern by pretending there is a wasp on Vera's arm, shifting the topic back to the weather and wasps. This distraction effectively steers the conversation away from any potential awkwardness about their mysterious host.
In a few words, he changes the subject.
In chapter 2 of Agatha Christie's novel And Then There Was None, some of the guests meet while waiting for a taxi on their way to their mysterious host/employers' home. Vera and Lombard engage in a polite conversation that begins with a classic topic: the weather. She is certain she has been offered a job as a secretary, and although she has never met Mrs. Owen, she is looking forward to spending some pleasant days on Indian Island.
Lombard has too accepted a job, although the nature of it is less clear to the readers. We know at this point that he has done illegal things in the past: "It was as though he knew very well that in Lombard's past actions legality had not always been a sine qua non" (chapter 1). It is pretty obvious he is not...
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willing to discuss his affairs with Vera.
Therefore, after she asks him about the Owens, he wonders what to answer: "Lombard thought: Awkward, this—am I supposed to have met them or not?" (page 18). So he casually diverts Vera's attention by pointing out she has a wasp crawling up her arm (a lie, most likely). This changes the subject of the conversation to wasps and the heat, going back to the initial weather topic, as it usually happens in casual talks between strangers.
In And Then There Were None, Vera and Lombard initially strike up a conversation when they meet. Vera soon mentions that she has yet to meet her new employer. Supposedly, she is to work for Mrs. Owen as a temporary secretary for the duration of the holidays.
When she asks Lombard to tell her what the Owens are like, he balks. He doesn't know how he is expected to answer. At this point, we deduce that poor Lombard has never met the Owens either. So, he does what many people do when they find themselves caught in an embarrassing situation: he changes the subject.
He pretends that there is a wasp on Vera's arm and makes a great show of batting it away. In response, Vera thanks Lombard for his gallant gesture. Lombard has managed to distract Vera admirably, and the talk soon turns to a query about the other guests. Soon, the train approaches and their attention is further centered on one General Macarthur, who will be part of their party on Indian Island.