"You must not wonder at anything that I do or say, Gilbert. It is my
nature to do strange things--my destiny to take the wrong turning in
life!"

"When shall I see you again?" Gilbert asked, when they were parting at
the Temple gates.

"I can scarcely tell you that. I must go back to Oxford to-morrow."

"So soon?"

"Yes, my work gets on better down there. I will let you know directly I
return to London."

On this they parted, Gilbert considerably mystified by his friend's
conduct, but not caring to push his questions farther. He had his own
affairs to think of, that one business which absorbed almost the whole of
his thoughts--the business of his search for the man who had robbed him
of his promised wife, this interval, in which he remained inactive,
devoting himself to the duties of his commercial life, was only a pause
in his labours. He was not the less bent upon bringing about a
face-to-face meeting between himself and Marian's husband because of this
brief suspension of his efforts.




CHAPTER XIV.

FATHER AND SON.