He praised it as intelligently as he could; but his mind was guessing all the time at the relation which lay behind the drawing.

According to Cuningham's information, it was now three years since a separation had been arranged between Madame de Pastourelles and her husband, Comte Albert de Pastourelles, owing to the Comte's outrageous misconduct.

Lord Findon had no doubt taken her abroad after the catastrophe.

And, besides her father, Welby had also been near, apparently--watching over her?
He returned to his work upon the hands, silent, but full of speculation.

The evident bond between these two people had excited his imagination and piqued his curiosity from the first moment of his acquaintance with them.