"Never, sir!" said he with emphasis, "as sure as my name's John."
"Explain yourself, Humphrys. What is it you have learned?"
"Too much, sir. I can bear it no longer. It is the common talk of the servants! I would have stayed with him for a crust till death, but I cannot hear him so spoken of."
"You frighten me. Go on."
"I ask your forgiveness, Mr Wilson," proceeded Humphrys, mumbling on, "but there are strange things said, and I didn't believe them at first,—and I was ready to knock the man down that hinted them to me—and I would have done it,—but I have seen, sir—with my own eyes—I wish I had been blind!" suddenly and passionately exclaimed the good fellow, his eyes overflowing with honest tears.
"Man, man!" said I hastily and vexed. "You talk in riddles. What is it you drive at?"
"Can't you guess, sir?" he answered meaningly.
"Guess?"
"Yes, sir,—Mrs Sinclair!"
"Mrs Sinclair?"