"We were going to the castle, I think?"
They set off walking in silence. At last Osmond abruptly broke out:
"They are returning from their honeymoon, I suppose."
"Doubtless. They are soon tired of seclusion; but Mrs. Percivale is no lover of seclusion; she had too much of that in her youth. What she wants now is to have her fling; and that is the very thing which does not by any means meet her husband's wishes."
"Why not? Is he jealous of her?" asked Osmond, in dry, hard tones.
"Jealous? He may be. I daresay she will give him cause; but that is not his reason for not wishing to appear very conspicuously before the public."
"Do you know the real reason?" asked Osmond, after a pause, staring at the ground.
"Broadly speaking, yes, I do. But not the details; they are too carefully concealed. Osmond, my young friend, if you want to be revenged on your successful rival, as is the fashion in the story-books, I could surely show you the easiest way in the world to do it."
"You could?" he said, with a momentary flash of unmistakable interest.
"I could indeed. I mean it."