He was married and settled, and contrary to the usual course of men who step with one stride into affluence, was living a life of usefulness which was rapidly making him a marked man in public esteem.

Perhaps she had no right to meddle with what no longer concerned her.

At all events, there is no evidence of her having done so in all these fourteen years.

Even after Mrs.
Roberts' death, all went on as usual; _but_--" Here Mr.Gryce became emphatic--"when he turned his attention to a second marriage and that with a very young girl--( I can name her to you, gentlemen, if you wish) her patient soul may have been roused; she may have troubled him with importunities; may have threatened him with a scandal which would have interfered greatly with his political hopes if it had not ended them at once.

I can conceive such an end to her long patience, can't you, gentlemen?
And what is more, if this were so, and the gentleman found the situation intolerable, it might account for the flight of that arrow as nothing else ever will." Both men had started to their feet.
"How! It was not _she_----" "It was not she who was struck, _but it was she who was aimed at_.