ooks, and there I believe she's handsomer than ever!"

Anstice's cigar was smoked out; but there was one question he must ask
before he took his leave.

"And her husband--Major Carstairs? He--I gather he was inclined to agree
with the verdict?"

Sir Richard hesitated, and when he spoke there was a note of pain in his
voice.

"I am sorry to say Carstairs could not bring himself to believe in his
wife's innocence. He was in India at the time, you know, and only got
home--on special leave--when the case was coming on. Heaven knows on
what grounds he bases his doubts of her. One would have thought it
impossible for a man to live with a woman like Chloe and not know her
incapable of the deed. But human nature is a strange thing----" He broke
off.

"I understand they do not contemplate keeping house together for the
future?" Anstice hoped he was not appearing unduly curious, but Sir
Richard's manner invited interest.

"No--though mind you, Carstairs has not left his wife because she was
unfortunate enough to be convicted and sent to prison. He's not that
sort. If he could have believed her innocent he would have stuck to her
through thick and thin. As it is he gives her the house, a large
allowance, which permits motor-cars and things of that kind, and since
he is known to be in India a good many people don't know they are really
living apart in a double sense."

"Yet he can't believe in her?"

"No--and that's why he will not live with her. In his own rather
peculiar way he has a remarkably high code of honour, and since he
genuinely believes her to be guilty it would doubtless be quite
impossible for him to live with her again."

"I am rather surprised--seeing she must know his opinion of her--that
she condescends to live in his house and take his money," said Anstice,
voicing a question which had caused him a very real and acute wonder.

"I'm glad you have raised that point," said Sir Richard quickly. "She
does it for the sake of the child, so that Cherry may have all the
advantages of wealth. Chloe herself has nothing and Carstairs is a rich
man; so it is an eminently proper arrangement, and in my opinion Chloe
behaved like a sensible woman in agreeing to it."

He threw away his cigar, which had gone out as he talked.

"No--what I wonder at is that Chloe should deliberately choose to come
back here where the whole story is known. It's not bravado, of that I'm
certain, but it beats me altogether how she can d