Finally, Duane Kingsland, wholesale flour merchant, religious, moral, conventional, who knew Cowperwood and his repute, encountered Mrs.Hand and Cowperwood first near Oconomowoc one summer's day, and later in Randolph Street, near Cowperwood's bachelor rooms.

Being the man that he was and knowing old Hand well, he thought it was his duty to ask the latter if his wife knew Cowperwood intimately.

There was an explosion in the Hand home.

Mrs.Hand, when confronted by her husband, denied, of course, that there was anything wrong between her and Cowperwood.
Her elderly husband, from a certain telltale excitement and resentment in her manner, did not believe this.

He thought once of confronting Cowperwood; but, being heavy and practical, he finally decided to sever all business relationships with him and fight him in other ways.