"I don't pretend to fathom his motives, sir; but I don't believe it was for any such purpose as you seem to think."
"In other words, you think I'm circulating baseless scandal, do you?"
"I have said nothing of the kind; and I protest against your putting words into my mouth I never used."
"You intimated as much, anyhow, and you plainly don't believe it."
"Well, I don't believe—that is, I don't see how it could happen."
"Couldn't the woman drive out from town after dark, send the carriage back, and have it call for her again in the morning?" asked Buxton.
"Possibly. Still, it isn't a proved fact that a woman spent the night at Hayne's, even if a carriage was seen coming out. You've got hold of some Sudsville gossip, probably," replied Ross.
"I have, have I? By God, sir, I'll teach you better manners before we get through with this question. Do you know who saw the carriage, and who saw the woman, both at Hayne's quarters?"
"Certainly I don't! What I don't understand is how you should have been made the recipient of the story."
"Mr. Ross, just govern your tongue, sir, and remember you are speaking to your superior officer, and don't venture to treat my statements with disrespect hereafter. I saw it myself!"