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Ten Acres Lodge？〃
He gave me another short answer。 〃I think not。〃
I said I was sorry to hear it。 〃However；〃 I added； 〃you can
always see him here； when you are in London。〃 He puffed out a big
volume of smoke； and made no remark。 I declined to be put down by
silence and smoke。 〃Or perhaps；〃 I persisted； 〃you will honor me
by meeting him at a simple little dinner at my lodgings？〃 Being a
gentleman； he was of course obliged to answer this。 He said； 〃You
are very kind； I would rather not。 Shall we talk of something
else； Father Benwell？〃
We talked of something else。 He was just as amiable as everbut
he was not in good spirits。 〃I think I shall run over to Paris
before the end of the month；〃 he said。 〃To make a long stay？〃 I
asked。 〃Oh； no！ Call in a week or ten daysand you will find me
here again。〃
When I got up to go； he returned of his own accord to the
forbidden subject。 He said； 〃I must beg you to do me two favors。
The first is； not to let Mr。 Romayne know that I am still in
London。 The second is； not to ask me for any explanations。〃
The result of our interview may be stated in very few words。 It
has advanced me one step nearer to discovery。 Winterfield's
voice； look； and manner satisfied me of thisthe true motive for
his sudden change of feeling toward Romayne is jealousy of the
man who has married Miss Eyrecourt。 Those compromising
circumstances which baffled the inquiries of my agent are
associated； in plain English； with a love affair。 Remember all
that I have told you of Romayne's peculiar dispositionand
imagine； if you can； what the consequences of such a disclosure
will be when we are in a position to enlighten the master of
Vange Abbey！
As to the present relations between the husband and wife； I have
only to tell you next what passed； when I visited Romayne a day
or two later。 I did well to keep Penrose at our disposal。 We
shall want him again。
On arriving at Ten Acres Lodge； I found Romayne in his study。 His
manuscript lay before himbut he was not at work。 He looked worn
and haggard。 To this day I don't know from what precise nervous
malady he suffers； I could only guess that it had been troubling
him again since he and I last met。
My first conventional civilities were dedicated； of course； to
his wife。 She is still in attendance on her mother。 Mrs。
Eyrecourt is now considered to be out of danger。 But the good
lady （who is ready enough to recommend doctors to other people）
persists in thinking that she is too robust a person to require
medical help herself。 The physician in attendance trusts entirely
to her daughter to persuade her to persevere with the necessary
course of medicine。 Don't suppose that I trouble you by
mentioning these trumpery circumstances without a reason。 We
shall have occasion to return to Mrs。 Eyrecourt and her doctor。
Before I had been five minutes in his company； Romayne asked me
if I had seen Winterfield since his visit to Ten Acres Lodge。
I said I had seen him； and waited； anticipating the next
question。 Romayne fulfilled my expectations。 He inquired if
Winterfield had left London。
There are certain cases （as I am told by medical authorities） in
which the dangerous system of bleeding a patient still has its
advantages。 There are other cases in which the dangerous system
of telling the truth becomes equally judicious。 I said to
Romayne； 〃If I answer you honestly； will you consider it as
strictly confidential？ Mr。 Winterfield； I regret to say； has no
intention of improving his acquaintance with you。 He asked me to
conceal from you that he is still in London。〃
Romayne's face plainly betrayed that he was annoyed and
irritated。 〃Nothing that you say to me； Father Benwell； shall
pass the walls of this room；〃 he replied。 〃Did Winterfield give
any reason for not continuing his acquaintance with me？〃
I told the truth once more； with courteous expressions of regret。
〃Mr。 Winterfield spoke of an ungracious reception on the part of
Mrs。 Romayne。〃
He started to his feet； and walked irritably up and down the
room。 〃It is beyond endurance！〃 he said to himself。
The truth had served its purpose by this time。 I affected not to
have heard him。 〃Did you speak to me？〃 I asked。
He used a milder form of expression。 〃It is most unfortunate；〃 he
said。 〃I must immediately send back the valuable book which Mr。
Winterfield has lent to me。 And that is not the worst of it。
There are other volumes in his library which I have the greatest
interest in consultingand it is impossible for me to borrow
them now。 At this time； too； when I have lost Penrose； I had
hoped to find in Winterfield another friend who sympathized with
my pursuits。 There is something so cheering and attractive in his
mannerand he has just the boldness and novelty of view in his
opinions that appeal to a man like me。 It was a pleasant future
to look forward to； and it must be sacrificedand to what？ To a
woman's caprice。〃
From our point of view this was a frame of mind to be encouraged。
I tried the experiment of modestly taking the blame on myself。 I
suggested that I might be （quite innocently） answerable for
Romayne's disappointment。
He looked at me thoroughly puzzled。 I repeated what I had said to
Winterfield。 〃Did you mention to Mrs。 Romayne that I was the
means of introducing you？〃
He was too impatient to let me finish the sentence。 〃I did
mention it to Mrs。 Romayne；〃 he said。 〃And what of it？〃
〃Pardon me for reminding you that Mrs。 Romayne has Protestant
prejudices；〃 I rejoined。 〃Mr。 Winterfield would； I fear； not be
very welcome to her as the friend of a Catholic priest。〃
He was almost angry with me for suggesting the very explanation
which had proved so acceptable to Winterfield。
〃Nonsense！〃 he cried。 〃My wife is far too well…bred a woman to
let her prejudices express themselves in _that_ way。
Winterfield's personal appearance must have inspired her with
some unreasonable antipathy； or〃
He stopped； and turned away thoughtfully to the window。 Some
vague suspicion had probably entered his mind； which he had only
become aware of at that moment； and which he was not quite able
to realize as yet。 I did my best to encourage the new train of
thought。
〃What other reason _can_ there be？〃 I asked。
He turned on me sharply。 〃I don't know。 Do you？〃