smile.

"No. I shall give it up," returns Curzon, his laugh a trifle grim.

"I was never more surprised in my life than when I saw you at your
sister's last evening. I was relieved, too--sometimes it is
necessary for a man to go out, and--and see how things are going on
with his own eyes."

"I wonder when that would be?" asks the professor indifferently.

"When a man is a guardian," replies Hardinge promptly, and with
evident meaning.

The professor glances quickly at him.

"You mean----?" says he.

"Oh! yes, of course I mean something," says Hardinge impatiently.
"But I don't suppose you want me to explain myself. You were there
last night--you must have seen for yourself."

"Seen what?"

"Pshaw!" says Hardinge, throwing up his head, and flinging his
cigarette into the empty fireplace. "I saw you go into the
conservatory. You found her there, and--_him._ It is beginning to be
the chief topic of conversation amongst his friends just now. The
betting is already pretty free."