"Can you in any way guess ?" The Pere Anselme mused for a moment.
"I have my own thoughts upon the matter, my son.

We who live lonely lives very close to Nature get into the way of studying things.

I have, as I told you, made some deductions, but, if you will permit me to give you some counsel, I would tell you to go back to the chateau now, with no _parti pris_, and seek her immediately, and get her to tell you the whole truth yourself.

Of what good for you and me to speculate, since we neither of us know all the facts ?--or even, if our suppositions are correct----" Then, as Lord Fordyce hesitated, he continued: "The time has passed for reticence.

There should be no more avoiding of feared subjects.