The man looked at him in astonishment. He then looked at Cora, who was half lying upon the sofa, mute, fuddled, and indifferent.
"Come outside," said the man, in a lower tone, "and I'll explain."
Feeling completely bewildered, Harper accompanied him into the passage.
"I apologize," said the man, as soon as they got there. "But Cora is entirely to blame. There's no need to say she never told me she was living with you."
"I don't understand," said Henry Harper.
The man stared at him. He was at a loss.
"Of course, I've known Cora Dobbs for years." He lowered his voice. "But I've been away in Canada. Before I went, I used to come here pretty regularly."
As the man spoke, light came to Henry Harper. All at once, a chill ran in his veins.
"But ... but she's ... she's my wife," he gasped, leaning heavily against the wall of the passage.
"She's your what!" the man almost shouted.