I began to hope I had succeeded.

The flattering tale was never finished.
"I believe," said Mrs.Lascelles, "that you saw Mrs.Evers in town before you started." It was too late to lie.
"As a matter of fact," I answered easily, "I did." I built no hopes on the pause which followed that.

Somehow I had my face to the moon, and Mrs.Lascelles had her back.

Yet I knew that her scrutiny of me was more critical than ever.
"How funny of Bob never to have told me!" she said.
"Told you what ?" "That you saw his mother just before you left." "I didn't tell him," I said at length.
"That was funny of you, Captain Clephane." "On the contrary," I argued, with the impudence which was now my only chance, "it was only natural.

Bob was rather raw with his friend Kennerley, you see.