at the club last night? No, bad as you are, Caudle--and though
you're my husband, I can't think you a good man; I try to do, but I
can't--bad as you are, you can't deny you were at the club. What?

"YOU DON'T DENY IT?

"That's what I say--you can't. And now answer me this question.
What did you say--before the whole world--of Mr. Badgerly's whiskers?
There's nothing to laugh at, Caudle; if you'd have seen that poor
woman to-day, you'd have a heart of stone to laugh. What did you say
of his whiskers? Didn't you tell everybody he dyed 'em? Didn't you
hold the candle up to 'em, as you said, to show the purple?

"TO BE SURE YOU DID?

"Ha! people who break jokes never care about breaking hearts.
Badgerly went home like a demon; called his wife a false woman:
vowed he'd never enter a bed again with her, and to show he was in
earnest, slept all night upon the sofa. He said it was the dearest
secret of his life; said she had told me; and that I had told you;
and that's how it has come out. What do you say?

"BADGERLY WAS RIGHT. I DID TELL YOU?

"I know I did: but when dear Mrs. Badgerly mentioned the matter to
me and a few friends, as we were all laughing at tea together, quite
in a confidential way--when she just spoke of her husband's whiskers,
and how long he was over 'em every morning--of course, poor soul! she
never thought it was to be talked of in the world again. Eh?