“When Dan came to the Park,” said Galorey, “I stopped bridge playing, but this more than takes its place!”
Ruggles’ big hand went slowly toward the checks; he touched them with his fingers and said: “Is Dan in love with your wife?”
And Lord Galorey laughed and said: “Lord no, my dear man, not even that! It is pure good nature on his part—mere prodigality. Edith appealed to him, that’s all.”
Relief crossed Ruggles’ face. He understood in a flash the worldly woman’s appeal to the rich young man and believed the story the husband told him.
“Have you spoken to the boy?”
“My dear chap, I have spoken to him about nothing. I preferred to come to you.”
“You said,” Ruggles continued, “there were two ladies down to your place.”
Galorey had refilled his pipe and held it as before in the palm of his hand.
“I can look after the affairs of my wife, and this shan’t happen again, I promise you—not at Osdene, but I’m afraid I can not do much in the other case. The Duchess of Breakwater has been at Osdene for nearly three weeks, and Dan is in love with her.”
Ruggles put the four checks one on top of the other.