"And those who have themselves broken over and have not been found out, are the most unforgiving," added Devonshire. "It's mighty queer!"
"It was a mighty kind thing for Pendleton and Burgoyne to do," said Westlake. "I felt like applauding."
"So did I," echoed the others.
"And it doesn't detract a bit from the bravery, that Pendleton is said at one time to have been in love with Stephanie Mourraille," remarked Smithers.
"It rather increases it—and proves its truth," said Westlake. "As for Burgoyne, he evidently is going to take her as he left her—cut out the interim. However it is, it was a classy thing to do. I shall tell them so."
"I wouldn't," Devonshire advised. "You might say it to Burgoyne but I should be shy of saying it to Pendleton. It is not the sort of praise that will appeal to him, I fancy—it is at the expense of the woman, you know."
"H-u-m!" Westlake reflected. "I hadn't thought of that—but it's a pretty fine spun reason."
"All the same, I wouldn't," was the reply.
Just then a servant delivered a message to Burgoyne and he arose and went into the Club-house.
Mrs. Lorraine, Pendleton, and he had been keeping up a rapid fire of small talk, without a reference to that which was uppermost in their own and everyone's mind. It obtruded itself at every turn of the conversation and everything that was said seemed in some way to hint at it. It was a relief when Burgoyne left—it gave them time to catch their breath, so to speak.