But he doubted her.

Yes, he could not conceal from himself certain very ugly facts--facts within his own knowledge.

Yet was not his own poignant jealousy misleading him?
Was not her refusal to attend the ball perhaps due to some sudden pique or unpleasantness with her giddy stepmother?
Was it?
He only longed to be able to believe that it might be so.

Alas! however, he had discovered the shadow of a strange and disagreeable truth..