"Rodney, do you think that what that man said is true?"
"He seemed to give chapter and verse for most of it."
"But if it's true--dad didn't take his own life!"
"But don't you see what a difference that makes?"
"Of course it makes a difference; but in what sense do you mean?"
"In every sense--every sense! Do you think--that while he's being buried--I should be here--if I had known that he was murdered? He was my father."
"Not in any case, not in any case! I may have got him all wrong! I may have misjudged! I may--I don't know what I mayn't have done. There's the letter!"
"To Mr. Wilkes. You said, when he wrote it, he was mad, and that taking his own life proved it. I thought so. But, if he didn't take his own life, what then?" Rodney made an effort to regain his self-possession, and partially succeeded.
"My dear Gladys, the whole business is a bad one, whichever way you look at it. We are to be married on Monday."
The knowledge of women on which he was apt to pride himself ought to have warned him that this was not the same girl as the one with whom he had come back from lunch in the cab. But at the moment he was not yet quite himself; his perception was at fault. He made a mistake.
"My dear Gladys, you are perfectly well aware that the arrangement, as it stands at present, is that we are to be married on Monday. I was merely about to suggest that, as it would seem that this whole unfortunate affair is likely to prove too much, we should be married to-morrow instead, and then we shall be able to get out of this unpleasant atmosphere at the earliest possible moment."
"Perhaps I shall not be married to you at all."
"Gladys! What are you talking about? What do you mean?"
"I don't know what I mean; I almost hope I never may know."
"You know quite well. That--wretched man."
"So far as I'm aware, never in my life. What makes you ask such a question?"
"How can a man swear to a thing like that? But I do swear that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, I have never seen him before."
"Then how came it that he knew you so well?"
"Knew me so well? Gladys! What are you dreaming about? Why, he never even addressed me by name."
"No, I noticed that; but he addressed you all the same. Most of what he said was especially addressed to you, as if he knew that you would understand."