"After what you said to me this morning," he said, "the events of the afternoon were not altogether a surprise, though I confess I didn't know that my niece cared as much as she does."
"Oh, she's very keen on it."
"So it appears; but would you mind telling me how you knew that?"
"She told me so herself."
"She— Oh!"
The judge looked Meldon straight in the face. He was surprised, and evidently sceptical.
"If you don't believe me," said Meldon, "ask Miss King."
"Anyhow," said the judge, "however you knew it, you were perfectly right. I don't like to go into details, but when I came down from the river this afternoon the position of affairs was quite plain to me."
"She was looking eager, I suppose, and perhaps a little anxious."
"I should hardly say anxious. The fact is that they—"