Mrs. Lancaster recognized this, and looked just a little relieved. She turned as if about to speak, but shut her lips tightly and walked on to the waiting carriage. And during the rest of the return home she scarcely uttered a word.
An hour later Ferdy Wickersham was seated in his private office, when Mr. Rimmon walked in.
Wickersham greeted him with more courtesy than he usually showed him.
"Well," he said, "what is it?"
"Well, it's come."
Wickersham laughed unmirthfully. "What? You have been found out? Which commandment have you been caught violating?"
"No; it's you," said Mr. Rimmon, his eyes on Wickersham, with a gleam of retaliation in them. "Your wife has turned up." He was gratified to see Wickersham's cold face turn white. It was a sweet revenge.
"My wife! I have no wife." Wickersham looked him steadily in the eyes.
"You had one, and she is in town."
"I have no wife," repeated Wickersham, firmly, not taking his eyes from the clergyman's face. What he saw there did not satisfy him. "I have your statement."