THE UNSPEAKABLE GENTLEMAN
"Pray do not believe I am so vulgar," he replied. "Yes, I wished to see you, Henry, for two reasons. First, I was absent-minded last evening. I find I do not know the name of the gentleman with whom you had the falling out. If you tell me—who knows—the world is small."
He waited expectantly, and I smiled at him. I had hoped he would ask me.
"You really care to know his name?"
"I might be useful," he confessed. "As I said—who knows? Perhaps we may have something in common—some little mutual interest."
"I am sure you have," I told him. "The man I fought with was Mr. Lawton—at my uncle's country house."
For a fraction of a second I thought he was astonished. I thought that the look he gave was almost one of respect, but it was hard to tell.
"And you wounded him?" he asked quickly.
"I hardly think Mr. Lawton expected it," I acknowledged.
"I fear," he mused, "that the years are telling on Mr. Lawton—and your Uncle Jason knew of this unpleasantness?"
"Not until afterwards."
[89]
