Ainsworth's fist banged an interruption on the table.
"As they will, d–n them," he cried.
"I am positive that the tongue of Maud Morris started the gossip," Rex said. "It got to the ears of the girl at last. She confronted me with the scandal they were heaping on her pure name. There was but one course left for me then."
"Ah!" gasped Trascott, in a kind of dread.
"I offered her marriage!"
"Good God!" shouted Ainsworth, losing all his control.
"And the girl?" stammered the unstrung curate.
"She accepted!"
An oppressive silence followed. Trascott's trembling tones were the first to break it.
"You married her?" was his horrified question. "With the red gulf of her father's blood between you?"