Vernon nodded. "I saw her yesterday. She sent to ask me what had become of Constantine. I was obliged to tell her."
"Do you think that was kind or wise?"
"I think so, decidedly. It was better that Mrs. Bedge should learn the truth from a friend than see it crudely printed in the daily papers. And there it is bound to appear sooner or later."
"Drench will have to catch The Spider first," said the Colonel coolly. "No easy task, as we know. What did she say?"
"At first she declined to believe it, badly as Maunders has treated her. She kept insisting that it was all a mistake and that Constantine would appear to put matters right."
"What wonderful faith these women have, Vernon."
"Bless them, yes. They go by their hearts entirely."
"In that case," remarked Towton drily, "Mrs. Bedge must have known that Maunders is not the saint she tries to make him out to be."
"I did not say that she went by her instinct," replied Vernon equally drily; "there is a difference between that and heart-love. Because Constantine is her sister's child and her adopted son Mrs. Bedge's heart, which he has almost broken, cherishes him fondly; but her instinct must have told her long ago that the fellow is a scamp of the worst sort."
"He's a thorough-paced scoundrel," said the Colonel vigorously.