ngs which would condemn
him utterly were they to find their way into Mr. Houghton's hands. One
terrible letter had gone astray, and why not another?

She had told him to be in Berkeley Square at two, and he was there very
punctually. He would at the moment have given much to find the house
full of people; but she was quite alone. He had thought that she would
receive him with a storm of tears, but when he entered she was radiant
with smiles. Then he remembered how on a former occasion she had
deceived him, making him believe that all her lures to him meant little
or nothing just when he had determined to repudiate them because he had
feared that they meant so much. He must not allow himself to be won in
that way again. He must be firm, even though she smiled. "What is all
this about?" she said in an affected whisper as soon as the door was
closed. He looked very grave and shook his head. "'Thou canst not say I
did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me.' That wife of yours has found
out something, and has found it out from you, my Lord."

"Yes, indeed."

"What has she found out?"

"She read a letter to me which you sent to the club."

"Then I think it very indecent behaviour on her part. Does she search
her husband's correspondence? I don't condescend to do that sort of
thing."

"It was my fault. I put it into her hand by mistake. But that does not
matter."

"Not matter! It matters very much to me, I think. Not that I care. She
cannot hurt me. But, George, was not that careless--very careless; so
careless as to be--unkind?"

"Of course it was careless."

"And ought you not to think more of me than that? Have you not done me
an injury, sir, when you owed me all solicitude and every possible
precaution?" This was not to be denied. If he chose to receive such
letters, he was bound at any rate to keep them secret. "But men are so
foolish--so little thoughtful! What did she say, George?"

"She behaved like an angel."

"Of course. Wives in such circumstances always do. Just a few drops of
anger, and then a deluge of forgiveness. That was it, was it not?"

"Something like it."

"Of course. It happens every day,--because men are so stupid, but at
the same time so necessary. But what did she say of me I Was she angel
on my side of the house as well as yours?"

"Of course she was angry."

"It did not occur to her that she had been the interloper, and had
taken you away from me?"

"That was not so. You had marr