Dr. Maclean stared at Mr. Toogood in amazement. He knew that this was true, but he had thought it was a secret between him and Jean. He had not even told his wife. The other read what was passing in his mind.
“You’re surprised, my good friend, at that fact being known? Probably Miss Jean never told a soul except, perhaps, you——”
The doctor nodded.
“Good God, man! D’you suppose that in such a place as the Etna China factory every thing that happens isn’t known?”
“I hold to it that no one can say Harry Garlett fell in love with my niece before his wife’s death,” said Dr. Maclean firmly.
“I suppose you wouldn’t go so far as to declare that Garlett didn’t fall in love with her the moment he came back, eh?”
“I think he did,” was the reluctant answer, “but I’m convinced he didn’t know it himself.”
“I wish I was as sure of that as you are. But I agree that he wouldn’t have spoken so soon if it hadn’t been that he found that Tasker was after her, eh?”
Dr. Maclean stared in fresh astonishment at the lawyer. “There’s very little going on hereabouts that I don’t know,” remarked Mr. Toogood.
There was a pause, then: “Whom are you going to get to defend Garlett?” asked Dr. Maclean eagerly, “or haven’t you yet made up your mind?”