"I liked both of them very much.

You knew Mrs.Greyle once upon a time, I think; you and your brother ?" "We did!" replied Sir Cresswell, with a sigh.

"Um!--the fact is, both Bassett and I were in love with her at that time.

She married another man instead.

That's all!" He gave Copplestone a squeeze of the elbow, laughed, and went across to the solicitor, who was chatting to Stafford in one of the bow windows.
Ten minutes later all three were off to Norcaster, and Copplestone was alone, ruminating over this sudden and extraordinary change in the hitherto even tenor of his life.