"What may that be?" he asked.
"I believe you have seen my wife lately?"
"What of that?"
Mallard began to knit his brows anxiously. He put up one foot on a chair, and rested his arm on his knee.
"Will you tell me when it was that you saw her?"
"If you will first explain why you come with such questions," returned the other, quietly.
"She has not been home since yesterday; I think that is reason enough."
Mallard maintained his attitude for a few moments, but at length put his foot to the ground again, and repeated the keen look he had cast at the speaker as soon as that news was delivered.
"When did you yourself go home?" he asked gravely.
"Late last night."