Others might pretend, others again be unconsciously prejudiced in favor of their friend; he at least was above either suspicion.

Had he not argued her case with Mrs.Venables at the time, and had he not told her so on the very evening that they met?
Certainly Langholm felt in a strong position, if ever the worst came to the worst; it illustrated a little weakness, however, that he himself foresaw no such immediate eventuality.

There had been a very brief encounter between two persons at a garden-party, and a yet more brief confusion upon either side.

Of all this there existed but half-a-dozen witnesses, at the outside, and Langholm did not credit the other five with his own trained insight and powers of observation; he furthermore reflected that those others, even if as close observers as himself, could not possibly have put two and two together as he had done.

And this was sound; but Langholm had a fatal knack of overlooking the lady whom he had taken in to dinner at Upthorpe Hall, and scarcely noticed at Hornby Manor.