itative, or even arrogant, as the circumstances of the moment
might demand. But he had been found with his coat off, and a baby in
his arms, and he could not recover himself. "I do not suppose that
anybody will question my right to have the care of my own child,"
said Trevelyan.

"If you would have gone to Mr. Skint, sir--," suggested Bozzle.
"There ain't no smarter gent in all the profession, sir, than Mr.
Skint."

Mr. Trevelyan made no reply to this, but walked on in silence, with
his minister at his elbow. He was very wretched, understanding well
the degradation to which he was subjecting himself in discussing his
wife's conduct with this man;--but with whom else could he discuss
it? The man seemed to be meaner now than he had been before he had
been seen in his own home. And Trevelyan was conscious too that he
himself was not in outward appearance as he used to be; that he was
ill-dressed, and haggard, and worn, and visibly a wretched being. How
can any man care to dress himself with attention who is always alone,
and always miserable when alone? During the months which had passed
over him since he had sent his wife away from him, his very nature
had been altered, and he himself was aware of the change. As he went
about, his eyes were ever cast downwards, and he walked with a quick
shuffling gait, and he suspected others, feeling that he himself was
suspected. And all work had ceased with him. Since she had left him
he had not read a single book that was worth the reading. And he knew
it all. He was conscious that he was becoming disgraced and degraded.
He would sooner have shot himself than have walked into his club,
or even have allowed himself to be seen by daylight in Pall Mall,
or Piccadilly. He had taken in his misery to drinking little drops
of brandy in the morning, although he knew well that there was no
shorter road to the devil than that opened by such a habit. He looked
up for a moment at Bozzle, and then asked him a question. "Where is
he now?"

"You mean the Colonel, sir. He's up in town, sir, a minding of his
parliamentary duties. He have been up all this month, sir."

"They haven't met?"

Bozzle paused a moment before he replied, and then smiled as he
spoke. "It is so hard to say, sir. Ladies is so cute and cunning.
I've watched as sharp as watching can go, pretty near. I've put a
youngster on at each hend, and both of 'em 'd hear a mouse stirring
in his sleep. I ain't got no evidence, Mr. Tre