"It's no one. I don't believe she'll marry at all."
"She's a crank."
"It's madness. I hear the Duchess of Goring has taken to her bed."
"Well, Goring hasn't. I saw him at the Frivolity."
"Who is it now?"
"I don't know her name. But where's Lady Penelope?"
No one knew but Bradstock, and even Augustin was behind by a post or two. None of the "horde" knew, and they began to get suspicious of each other. Goby watched De Vere, and De Vere kept his eye on Goby. It was obvious from the newspapers that Bramber was in the House. Gordon was seen at his Club. And then Carteret Williams was missing. Carew hunted for him in vain at the Press Club and at the office of the Morning Hour. There was no war yet, though there were rumours of it in the Balkans as usual.
It got about that she had married Williams, though he had only run away from Carew for a week.
"The very worst of the lot," wailed Titania. "I knew it would be Williams. He's hardly a gentleman, though he comes of a good family. Being a war correspondent makes a man brutal. I knew, I knew, I knew it was Williams, and now I shall never speak to her; and he will beat her in time, I know it, and there will be a horrible scandal; and what, oh, what can she have done with Bob? Augustin, go at once and find where Bob is. I knew it would be Williams! Didn't I always say it would be Williams? I could have forgiven her any one else."
Gordon came to ask Bradstock if it was true. And Bradstock had a sense of humour, if Pen had none.