She had not thought of the young widow again, until Dick's language had innocently inspired her first doubt.
Fortunately for both of them, he was an outspoken man; and he reassured her unreservedly in these words: "Your husband knows nothing about it." "Now," she said, "you may tell me how you came to hear of the lady." "Through my uncle's library," Dick replied.

"His will has left me his collection of books--in such a wretchedly neglected condition that I asked Beaucourt (not being a reading man myself) if he knew of any competent person who could advise me how to set things right.

He introduced me to Farleigh & Halford, the well-known publishers.

The second partner is a book collector himself, as well as a bookseller.

He kindly looks in now and then, to see how his instructions for mending and binding are being carried out.