"Has the girl gone?"

"A week ago. I have a letter from Ralph Pomfret. The good old chap
worries about this affair; so does Mrs. Pomfret. He doesn't say it
plainly, but I suspect Franks has been behaving theatrically down at
Ashstead; it's possible he went there in the same state in which I
saw him last. Pomfret would have done well to punch his head, but
I've no doubt they've stroked and patted and poor-fellow'd him--
the very worst thing for Franks."

"Or for any man," remarked Sherwood.

"Worse for him than for most. I wish I had more of the gift of
brutality; I see a way in which I might do him good; but it goes
against the grain with me."

"That I can believe," said Godfrey, with his pleasantest look and
nod.

"I was afraid he might somehow scrape together money enough to
pursue her to Egypt. Perhaps he's trying for that. The Pomfrets want
me to go down to Ashstead and have a talk with them about him.
Whether he managed to see the girl before she left England, I don't
know."

"After all, he _has_ been badly treated," said Sherwood
sympathetically.

"Well, yes, he has. But a fellow must have common sense, most of all