I find it hard to believe that such a man could ever be a coward." "So do I," Mrs.Keith agreed.

"Still, I haven't seen him since he was a boy." "I saw him in London just before he went to India," Mrs.Ashborne said.
"It's strange I have never heard the story before; although I have had whispers of the scandal from several quarters.

It seems to be a sort of skeleton in the closet' for the Challoners." "The disgrace was a great blow to the Colonel.

He has never got over it." "I saw some one in the hotel last night that reminded me strongly of young Blake.

But I suppose it couldn't have been." "No one knows where he is," Mrs.Keith replied.