“He did,” said Benson.
“I am relieved to hear it. I had feared that the boys were badly involved. It's a great misfortune for a young and handsome lady to be left as she has been left,” concluded the judge, smiling blandly.
“Yes,” agreed Benson, “it is;” but now he turned on the judge with a quickened interest. The expression on his face was half quizzical, half cynical.
“Do you suppose she will marry again?” asked the judge with studied indifference.
“How should I know?” demanded Benson sharply.
“I did not know but that you might have formed some opinion,” ventured the judge with a slightly embarrassed air.
He became silent. He settled his stock, and took his tall hat from the table at his elbow, and Benson fell to pulling over the papers on his desk.
“When you are ready, Jake, to look into what I have done in your absence—” remarked the judge, about to take his leave.
“In a day or two. I have had a pretty long holiday, you know.”
“Well, whenever you are ready,” said the judge, quitting the room.