Ruggles wondered how the husband had got hold of the checks, but he didn’t ask and he did not look at the papers. 

 “When Dan came to the Park,” said Galorey, 62 “I stopped bridge playing, but this more than takes its place!” 

62

 Ruggles’ big hand went slowly toward the checks; he touched them with his fingers and said: “Is Dan in love with your wife?” 

 And Lord Galorey laughed and said: “Lord no, my dear man, not even that! It is pure good nature on his part—mere prodigality. Edith appealed to him, that’s all.” 

 Relief crossed Ruggles’ face. He understood in a flash the worldly woman’s appeal to the rich young man and believed the story the husband told him. 

 “Have you spoken to the boy?” 

 “My dear chap, I have spoken to him about nothing. I preferred to come to you.” 

 “You said,” Ruggles continued, “there were two ladies down to your place.” 

 Galorey had refilled his pipe and held it as before in the palm of his hand. 

 “I can look after the affairs of my wife, and this shan’t happen again, I promise you—not at 63 Osdene, but I’m afraid I can not do much in the other case. The Duchess of Breakwater has been at Osdene for nearly three weeks, and Dan is in love with her.” 

63

 Ruggles put the four checks one on top of the other. 

 “Is the lady a widow?” 

 “Unfortunately, yes.” 

 “So that’s the nest Dan has got into at Osdene,” the Westerner said. And Galorey answered: “That is the nest.” 

 “And he has gone out there to-day—got a wire this morning.” 

 “The duchess has been in an awful funk,” said Galorey, “because Dan’s been stopping in London so long. She sent him a message, and as soon as Dan wired back that he was coming to the Park, I decided to come here and see you.” 

 Ruggles ruminated: “Has the duchess complications financially?” 

 Prev. P 29/138 next