"Taken locally ?" "I took it myself," Andrew answered.

"I used to be rather great at that sort of thing before--before my eyes went dicky." Duncombe resumed his seat.

He helped himself to another glass of wine.
"I presume," he said, "from the fact that you call yourself their nearest friend, that the young lady is not engaged ?" "No," Andrew answered slowly.

"She is not engaged." Something a little different in his voice caught his friend's attention.
Duncombe eyed him keenly.

He was conscious of a sense of apprehension.
He leaned over the table.
"Do you mean, Andrew---- ?" he asked hoarsely.