"There's a mystery in it," mused Seth, "and I'm partial to mystery. Here we are at your place. May I come up?"
Without waiting for permission, he pushed his way upstairs, and entered Mrs. Chester's room. In the first glance he saw the state of poverty to which she was reduced. Unceremoniously he went to the cupboard and opened it; there was no food on the shelves. Then he turned to Mrs. Chester, and fixed his great grey eyes on her so piercingly that she began to grow frightened.
"You're a married woman. Where's your wedding-ring?"
She placed her left hand quickly behind her.
"I don't mean any harm. Where is it?"
"In pawn?"
"That's always the last thing to go, Mrs. Chester."
Weak and sick, she sank, panting, into a chair.
"Your husband's in the hospital?"
"Yes," she sighed.