"Striver, the gardener. How did he learn?" I asked, taken aback.
"Ah," sneered the little man, "you don't feel quite so certain that you hold the keys of the situation, do you, Mr. Vance? Yes, Striver knows. He saw me in Piccadilly when I was getting out of my motor, and went to ask my chauffeur questions?"
"What sort of questions?"
"About my possessing a motor, I suppose. Striver knows my income, and didn't see how I could afford such a machine. Also he has the impudence of old Nick himself. At all events, he learned from my chauffeur that I was Marr, and, thinking something was wrong, as you did, he learned my address and had an interview. To prevent his telling Gertrude I was obliged to shut his mouth and confess all."
"How did you shut his mouth?" I asked hastily.
"I intimated," said Monk coolly, "that if he could get money enough, and went to school to improve his education, he could marry Gertrude."
"What!" this time I sprang to my feet, and a fine rage I was in, "you dared to make a bargain with that fellow."
"I had to shut his mouth," said Monk sullenly, and sat down.
"So he lives in a fool's paradise. You don't suppose that Gertrude would marry Striver?"
"I never thought so for one moment, no more than she would marry you."