Others had had a share in it, and there was no doubt but that it would
eventually become known; better hear it from the lips of a friend than
from the lips of a foe.

"Perhaps," he advised, "it might be as well for you to speak to her
first; it would give her a fair chance."

If it were not true, she could deny it, although if she proved to be
innocent, and I had made a mistake, I deserved what I should no doubt
get; if she were guilty and owned it, she would have some warning at
least. That seemed to me the best plan, if I could speak to her; break
it to her in some way or other.

A few more days passed. If any doubt was left in my mind, what happened
one morning at breakfast would have satisfied me. Lance had taken up the
paper. I was reading some letters, and Mrs. Fleming making tea.

Lance looked suddenly from his paper.

"I used to think drink was the greatest curse in England," he said.

"Have you changed your opinion?" I asked.

"I have. I think now the crying sin of the country is child-murder."

As he uttered the words his wife was just in the act of pouring some
cream into my cup; it did not surprise me that the pretty silver jug and
the cream all fell together. Lance laughed aloud.