Guest shuddered: the idea was horrible.
“No, no, my lad; that would not do at all. But there, say no more about it now. By and by I shall hear what the lawyers think about a divorce.”
They shook hands and parted, the admiral going home, and Guest straight to his friend’s chambers, where he knocked, but there was no answer.
Brettison came out, though, from the adjoining room.
“He has not come back yet from the trial,” Brettison said.
“Indeed! I looked round the court, but could not see him there. You have heard, of course?”
“The verdict? Yes, I was there.”
The two men looked inquiringly into each others’ eyes, and just then a step was heard upon the stairs.
“Here he is,” whispered Guest, and the next minute, looking very calm and self-possessed, Stratton joined them, and asked them in; but Brettison declined, and went back to his own chambers, while Guest followed his friend into his room, thinking, as he entered the quiet, retired place, of how his coming had changed the current of Stratton’s career.
“Sit down, old fellow,” said Stratton cheerfully, and he opened the closet by the fireplace to reach down a box of cigars, which he handed to Guest, and then took one himself.