He agreed with Harry that all reconciliation was now a thing of the past; the only solution possible was that Talbot was out of his senses--the affair having undermined his reason.

He had heard of such cases and had doubted them--he was convinced now that they could be true.

His answer, therefore, to Harry's next question--one about his lost sweetheart--was given with a certain hesitation.

As long as the memory of Rutter's curses rankled within him all reference to Kate's affairs--even the little he knew himself--must be made with some circumspection.

There was no hope in that direction either, but he did not want to tell him so outright; nor did he want to dwell too long upon the subject.
"And I suppose Kate is married by this time, Uncle George," Harry said at last in a casual tone, "is she not ?" (He had been leading up to it rather skilfully, but there had been no doubt in his uncle's mind as to his intention.) "I saw the house lighted up, night before last when I passed, and a lot of people about, so I thought it might be either the wedding or the reception." The question had left his lips as one shoots an arrow in the dark--hit or miss--as if he did not care which.