“Presuming, of course, that popular feeling is a matter about which I am likely to concern myself.”

“That is a question for you to decide.  Excuse the hint.”

“The question is whether it is not better to be on the spot, so as to strangle calumny at its source, than to hide myself abroad whilst a host of malicious tongues are busy with me.”

“As to that, Douglas, I assure you you have been very fairly treated.  The chief blame, as usual, has fallen on the weaker sex.  Nothing could exceed the moderation of those from whom the loudest complaints might have been expected.  Reginald Lind has hardly ever mentioned the subject.  Even to me, he only shook his head and said that it was an old attachment.  As to Conolly, we have actually reproached him for making excuses for you.”

“Aye.  A very astute method of bringing me into contempt.  Allow me to enlighten you a little, Jasper.  Lind, whose daughter I have discovered to be one of the worst of women, has just offered me ten thousand pounds to marry her.  That speaks for itself.  Conolly, who drove her into my arms by playing the tyrant whilst I played the lover, is only too glad to get rid of her.  At the same time, he is afraid to fight me, and ashamed to say so.  Therefore, he impudently pretends to pity me for being his gull in the matter.  But I will stop that.”

“Conolly is a particular friend of mine, Douglas, Let us drop the subject, if you dont mind.”

“If he is your friend, of course I have nothing more to say.  I think I will turn in here and dine.  Good-evening.”

They parted without any salutation:  and Douglas entered the restaurant and dined alone, he came out an hour later in improved spirits, and began to consider whether he would go to the theatre or venture into his club.  He was close to a lamp at a corner of Leicester Square when he stopped to debate the point with himself; and in his preoccupation he did not notice a four-wheeled cab going slowly past him, carrying a lady in an old white opera cloak.  This was Mrs. Leith Fairfax, who, recognizing him, called to the cabman to drive a little past the lamp and stop.

“Good heavens!” she said in a half-whisper:  “you here!  What madness possessed you to come back?”

“I had no further occasion to stay away.”

“How coolly you say so!  You have iron nerves, all you Douglases.  I have heard all, and I know what you have suffered.  How soon will you leave London?”

“I have no intention of leaving it at present.”

“But you cannot stay here.”

“Pray why not?  Is not London large enough for any man who does not live by the breath of the world?”

“Out of the question, Mr. Douglas.  Absolutely out of the question.  You must go away for a year at the very least.  You must yield something to propriety.”

“I shall yield nothing.  I can do without any section of society that may feel called upon to do without me.”