It appears he only heard it himself this morning, by letter, but the brute has made good use of his time! _I_ only got wind of it an hour or two ago, of course quite by accident, and I haven't seen the fellow since; but he's particularly keen on his letters, and either he explains himself to my satisfaction or I make an example of him before the hotel.

It's a thing I never dreamt of doing in my life, and I'm sorry the poor beast is such a scarecrow; but it's a duty to punish that sort of crime against a woman, and now I'm sure you'll lend me one of your sticks.

I am only sorry I didn't bring one with me." "But wait a bit, my dear fellow," said I, for he was actually holding out his hand: "you have still to tell me what the report was." "Divorce!" he answered in a tragic voice.

"Clephane, the fellow says she was divorced in India, and that it was--that it was her fault!" He turned away his face.

It was in a flame.
"And you are going to thrash Quinby for saying that ?" "If he sticks to it, I most certainly am," said Bob, the fire settling in his blue eyes.
"I should think twice about it, Bob, if I were you." "My dear man, what else do you suppose I have been thinking of all the afternoon ?" "It will make a fresh scandal, you see." "I can't help that." And Bob shut his mouth with a self-willed snap.
"But what good will it do ?" "A liar will be punished, that's all! It's no use talking, Clephane; my mind is made up." "But are you so sure that it's a lie ?" I was obliged to say it at last, reluctantly enough, yet with a wretched feeling that I might just as well have said it in the beginning.
"Sure ?" he echoed, his innocent eyes widening before mine.