worst instead of the best of men!"

"Has anything happened since yesterday to increase their distrust
of me?" he asked.

"Yes,"

"What is it?"

"You remember referring my uncle to a friend of yours and of
his?"

"Yes. To Major Fitz-David."

"My uncle has written to Major Fitz-David "

"Why?"

He pronounced that one word in a tone so utterly unlike his
natural tone that his voice sounded quite strange to me.

"You won't be angry, Eustace, if I tell you?" I said. "My uncle,
as I understood him, had several motives for writing to the
major. One of them was to inquire if he knew your mother's
address."

Eustace suddenly stood still.

I paused at the same moment, feeling that I could venture no
further without the risk of offending him.