She seemed to seize on this alternative possibility with eagerness.
"He has never been the same since he came back," she said. "That is certain. He was quite, quite different before he went to South Africa."
Then a question occurred to her, and she asked: "Has he shown any violence?"
"Not at the gardens. But they had heard of an assault he made outside the gates."
"Yes, I know. He attacked his valet for following him and daring to interfere."
"He has been very quiet in the tiger-house—except for that mumbling talk of his to the tigress. But that attracts attention—collects a crowd, you know—and they have to ask him to move on."
"And does he?"
"Oh, yes! Very peaceably. But he's back again in a little while, and then the same thing has to be repeated."
"Poor Hal!" sighed Nina, her locked hands tightly gripped.
"They hope he has gone away to stay, one of the guards told me. Ever since the row outside, they fear he may indulge in some outbreak in the grounds. There is talk of refusing him admission."