e to--to Dr.
Foe--two days ago, asking if he could supply you as nearly as
possible with its bearings."

"Are you telling me--?" I began.

She nodded, searching my face. "Yes, your old friend is the man; and
that's where _I_ come in as a humbug. The reason of this call is
that I want to know why you two, who used to be devoted, are no
longer friends."

"Good Lord!" I exclaimed, not loudly, but more or less to myself.
"You must forgive my lighting a cigar, Constantia. . . . My mind
works slowly." While lighting it I made a miserable attempt to fob
her off and gain time. "When an old friend cuts in and carries
off--"

"That's nonsense," she interrupted sharply; "and you know it; and you
ought to know that I know it."

"Well, then," I protested rather feebly, hating to hurt her,
"you must allow that his behaviour to that man Farrell was a bit
beyond the limit. Of course, if you can forgive it--well, I don't
know. It's odious to me to be talking like this about the man to
whom you're attached--the man I used to worship. And for me, who
still would lose a hand, cheerfully, now as ever, to spare you pain!
. . . My dear girl, let's talk of something else."

"No, we will not," said Constantia firmly. "I came to talk about
this, and I will. . . . Of course I know it was wrong of Jack to
pursue Mr. Farrell as he did. You remember my telling you I was
worried, that day we talked about him after my return from the
States? At that time I imagined he was allowing himself for a bribe
to be friends again with this man, and it distressed me; because--
well, women have their code, you know, as well as men, and--and I may
confess to you now that, even at that time, I had begun to take an
interest--"

"I see," said I dully, resting my arm along the chimney-piece and
staring down into the grate, where Jephson had lit a small fire: for
the day, though bright, was chilly.

"You assured me, you remember, that Jack was above any such meanness;
and so far you relieved me, for I saw you were telling the truth.
But," she continued, "I saw also that it wasn't the whole truth: that
you were hiding something. So I went away puzzled. Afterwards, I
got the truth out of Jimmy Collingwood."

"Well?" I prompted her, as she paused.

"Well, it was shocking of Jack, I admit. But, after all, this
Mr. Farrell had ruined his life, and--of course I don't quite
understand men and their code--but isn't it a trifle uncharitable of
you,