The more Stransom thought the more he made out that whatever this relation of Hague's it could only have been a deception more or less finely practised.

Where had it come into the life that all men saw?
Why had one never heard of it if it had had the frankness of honourable things?
Stransom knew enough of his other ties, of his obligations and appearances, not to say enough of his general character, to be sure there had been some infamy.

In one way or another this creature had been coldly sacrificed.

That was why at the last as well as the first he must still leave him out and out..