"Evidence! What do you mean?" demanded the angry husband.
"You had registered as 'Mr. Heath and lady.' I learned that you were an English baronet."
"Yes, but what of that? I simply wished to escape being conspicuous, and I had a right to register as I chose."
"Then there was a story that you had taken another wife in England, shortly after leaving America."
"And were you idiot enough to believe such a contemptible slander, when I brought her here and established her as my honored wife? Did I ever treat her with anything but reverence and respect?" thundered Sir William, growing more and more indignant.
"No, sir," confessed the unhappy proprietor, as he drew a paper from his desk; "but when you read a notice that I have here you may not wonder so much at the credulity of people; besides, there were no letters coming from you to the lady."
"No letters!" cried the baronet, in a startled tone.
"No, sir, although madam wrote to you with every steamer, and seemed sad and depressed to get nothing in return."
The baronet was astounded.
It all looked as if there was some treachery at work to ruin their happiness; but Sir William racked his brain in vain to solve the riddle.