Dudgeon still stood staring open-mouthed and open-eyed.
"There were only two places he missed, the bank and the cottage down the road—Smart's place—where Mrs. Eustace is living."
"Ah! Then that poor thing's a widow?"
"That's so," Soden replied. "But, between you and me, I don't think for long. You know she and Harding—he's our new bank manager, by the way—are old friends, Mr. Dudgeon, and from what I hear from Jim, my barman, who's got his eye on the girl Mrs. Eustace has, they're pretty good friends now, if not a bit more. I shouldn't be surprised, speaking as between man and man, to see her back at the bank again before many years are over, that is, if young Harding stays on here."
"Oh!" Dudgeon exclaimed. "Oh!"
"He's a fine young fellow, Mr. Dudgeon, and you ought to be interested in him, for he was the first to look after you when you were knocked over. But, here, won't you come in for a bit? You're in no-hurry."
"Yes, I am," Dudgeon replied. "I'm in town on business, and when I have business to do, Mr. Soden, I do it. See?"
"It's a good plan."
"Yes, it's a very good plan. So I'll move along. Don't forget to have that horse in sharp at four—I don't like waiting."
He limped away down the road and Soden turned back into his house.