"But they're of a different kind," he said to Mr.Longdon.
"What had it been, his idea ?" the old man, however, simply repeated.
Mitchy's confession at this seemed to explain his previous evasion.

"We shall never know." Mr.Longdon hesitated.

"He won't tell YOU ?" "Me ?" Mitchy had a pause.

"Less than any one." Many things they had not spoken had already passed between them, and something evidently, to the sense of each, passed during the moment that followed this.

"While you were abroad," Mr.Longdon presently asked, "did you hear from him ?" "Never.