Anthony. Mallard was a candlestick, paraded as such. Think awhile. Recollect last season and the talk then. Mallard or no Mallard, did Gadsby ever talk to any other woman?
Curtiss. There's something in that. It was slightly noticeable now you come to mention it. But she's at Naini Tal and he's at Simla.
Anthony. He had to go to Simla to look after a globe-trotter relative of his—a person with a title. Uncle or aunt.
Blayne And there he got engaged. No law prevents a man growing tired of a woman.
Anthony. Except that he mustn't do it till the woman is tired of him. And the Herriott woman was not that.
Curtiss. She may be now. Two months of Naini Tal works wonders.
Doone. Curious thing how some women carry a Fate with them. There was a Mrs. Deegie in the Central Provinces whose men invariably fell away and got married. It became a regular proverb with us when I was down there. I remember three men desperately devoted to her, and they all, one after another, took wives.
Curtiss. That's odd. Now I should have thought that Mrs. Deegie's influence would have led them to take other men's wives. It ought to have made them afraid of the judgment of Providence.
Anthony. Mrs. Herriott will make Gadsby afraid of something more than the judgment of Providence, I fancy.
Blayne. Supposing things are as you say, he'll be a fool to face her. He'll sit tight at Simla.