he had read the morning paper--and she usually read it--she must be
lying. This circumstance the husband duly noted in the case which he was
building up against her.

"I dare say he rather dropped out, socially speaking, after his escapade
with that New York woman," he volunteered. "It was a pity."

"The reports we had about his conduct," defended Conscience with a
straightforward glance, "were grossly untrue. He suffered the effects of
the circumstantial out of consideration for her."

"Indeed!" Tollman's voice was one of quickened interest, seemingly of
pleased surprise. He was developing an excellent facility in the actor's
art. "That is gratifying news. One likes to think well of an old friend,
but how did you learn?"

The woman bit her lip. She had made her assertion in so categorical a
form that to withhold her authority now meant to appear absurd, and she
had not wished to betray the confidence of Marian Holbury. So she fell
back on the alternative of a partial explanation.

"Mrs. Holbury herself explained the matter to me. It was a chapter of
accidental appearances."

Tollman was gazing at his wife with brows incredulously arched but his
scepticism appeared amused--almost urbane.

"But where in the world did you and Mrs. Holbury meet? Your orbits have
no points of contact."

"She was driving to Provincetown--and stopped here."

"Ah!" Tollman might have been pardoned in making further inquiries, but
already his plan of proceeding cautiously had seemed to supply him with
such valuable points of evidence that he meant to continue the fruitful
policy, so he contented himself with the casual inquiry, "Was this
recently?"

"No, it was about two years ago."

Two years ago and until now she had never mentioned it! Then she _had_,
through at least one ambassador, held communication with her lover. A
moment ago she had declared herself without news of him. The woman whom
he had trusted was at heart unfaithful. It was just as well that he had
decided to assume the role of the blind man. Now he would proceed
further and devise a trap into which she should unwittingly walk and
from which there should be no escape.

A plan presented itself with the fully formulated swiftness of an
inspiration. He would arrange a meeting between his wife and
Farquaharson. He, himself, seemingly unsuspicious and fatuously trustful
of demeanor, would observe them. He would throw them together--and when
the truth was indisputably p