I can,
at any time, make the disclosure to Romayne which informs him that his
wife had been Winterfield's guest in Devonshire, when she affected to
meet her former host on the footing of a stranger. In the meanwhile,
I give Penrose ample opportunity for innocently widening the breach
between husband and wife.
You see, I hope, that if I maintain a passive position, it is not from
indolence or discouragement. Now we may get on.
After an interval of a few days more I decided on making further
inquiries at Mrs. Eyrecourt's house. This time, when I left my card,
I sent a message, asking if the lady could receive me. Shall I own my
weakness? She possesses all the information that I want, and she has
twice baffled my inquiries. Under these humiliating circumstances, it is
part of the priestly pugnacity of my disposition to inquire again.
I was invited to go upstairs.
The front and back drawing-rooms of the house were thrown into one.
Mrs. Eyrecourt was being gently moved backward and forward in a chair
on wheels, propelled by her maid; two gentlemen being present, visitors
like myself.
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