"Who is the lady?"
John was silent; he found a strange diffidence in tackling this subject. It was a matter of some difficulty to state exactly what was the situation between himself and Elaine. Dacent Smith waited, and then tapped the arm of his chair with his finger, which was his only manner of showing impatience.
"Come, Treves, who is the lady?"
"Bernard Treves's wife, sir!"
"Oh! And wherein lies the particular awkwardness?"
"Yesterday she came down to the Gordon Hotel in Newport to see me, and stayed the night there."
"Was that awkward for you?"
"I'm afraid it was, sir. It seems," went on John, "that there was a disagreement between her and her husband, which ended in the lady refusing to live with him until he improved his habits."
"A very proper and spirited attitude to take," responded Dacent Smith.
"That is my opinion," said John, "but, unfortunately, she has decided to forgive her husband."