"You may depend upon it," said Lady Chaloner, "that it was something very bad. He is not the man to do that sort of thing for nothing."
"I am quite sure of it," Lady Adela replied, with a little tremor of excitement. "One can't help feeling that it's something really bad; that it was not only that he had run away with his neighbour's wife or something of that kind. He must have done something that can't be condoned."
"I am sure of it," Lady Chaloner said seriously. "There is no doubt about that."
"Poor creature!" said Lady Adela. "Didn't he look awful?"
"Perfectly fearful!" said Lady Chaloner. "He looked like the villain in a play, who is found out—the man who has cheated at cards, or something of that sort."
"Perhaps that was it."
"I daresay," said Lady Chaloner. "I wonder if he has been playing Bridge?"
"Dear me, I wish I knew!" said Lady Adela.
This sounded very interesting, Rachel thought—exactly the kind of thing that happened in books at smart watering-places.
"Ah, there is Maddy," said Lady Adela. "I do wonder what she thought."