"I'm sorry to hear it," George said.
Warren folded his arms, and regarded his friend steadily across them.
"You know Rachael has left me, George?" he began.
"I--well, yes, Alice went down there first, and then I went down," George said. "We only came back ten days ago." There was another brief silence.
"She--she hasn't any cause for this, you know, George," Warren said, ending it, after watching the other man hopefully for further suggestion.
"Hasn't, huh?" George asked thoughtfully, hopefully.
"No, she hasn't!" Warren reiterated, gaining confidence. "I've been a fool, I admit that, but Rachael has no cause to go off at half-cock, this way!"
"What d'you mean by that?" George asked flatly. "What do you mean--you've been a fool?"
"I've been a fool about Magsie Clay," Warren admitted, "and Rachael learned about it, that's all. My Lord! there never was an instant in my life when I took it seriously, I give you my word, George!"
"Well, if Rachael takes it seriously, and Magsie takes it seriously, you may find yourself beginning to take it seriously, too," George said with a dull man's simple evasion of confusing elements.