or cheerful?"
The major C°nsiderd. He was a slow-spoken
man.
"Seemed in fairly g%d spirits," he said at last.
"He said nothing bout being on bad terms
with Major RicI?''
"Good Lord, no. They were pals."
"He didn't oIject t°'-his wife's friendship with
Major Rich?"
The major became Very red in the face.
"You've been. r.ea. ding those damned news-papers,
with tlaelr nm[s and lies. Of course he
didn't object. Why, he said to me: 'Marguerita's
going, of course""
"I see. Now during the evening--the manner of
Major Rich--Was that huch as usual?"
"I didn't notice any qifference."
"And madar0e? She, too, was as usual."
"Well," he reflected, "now I come to think of
it, she was a bit quiet. You know, thoughtful and
faraway."
"Who arrived first?"
"The SpenceS' They were there when I got
there. As a mStter of tact, I'd called round for
Mrs. Clayton, Itt f°unl she'd already started. So
I got there a bit late."
"And how did you amuse yourselves? You
danced? You pi$yed the cards?"
"A bit of botl. Danced first of all."
' "There were five of Yu?"