If Monica were in danger at all, it was, he felt convinced, from that quarter.

The subject of his wife's intimate dialogue with Barfoot at the Academy still remained a mystery to him.

He put faith in her rebellious declaration that every word might have been safely repeated in his hearing, but, be the matter what it might, the manner of Barfoot's talk meant evil.

Of that conviction he could not get rid.
He had read somewhere that a persistently jealous husband may not improbably end by irritating an innocent wife into affording real ground for jealousy.

A man with small knowledge of the world is much impressed by dicta such as there; they get into the crannies of his mind, and thence direct the course of his thinking.