‘I don’t see much room for doubt. It’s neither a common name nor a common colour. Of course there may be no particular harm in a man spending his money to eke out your gift to your wife, but I think it puts you in a false position.’ ‘Think!’ roared Mr. Piper. ‘It puts me in a position that will oblige me to kick Captain Standish out of my house; and if I thought my wife knew it--knew that she was riding a horse bought with that man’s money--I would shut my doors upon her as readily as upon him. I may be a fool about Bella, but I’m only a fool within certain limits. There are bounds, Chumney--bounds that I shan’t overstep. But I don’t believe she knows it--no, she could not be so ungrateful--she could not be so base as to degrade me in any man’s eyes--after my lavishing my money upon her--picking her out of the gutter to make a duchess of her--giving her an honest man’s love into the bargain. No, I can believe anything of that fellow’s audacity, but nothing against her. Don’t ask me to think ill of her.’ ‘I don’t,’ said Chumney; ‘but I think it’s high time this philandering with Captain Standish should be put a stop to, and I fancy I’ve shown you a good reason for stopping it. I hope you don’t think I’ve gone beyond my duty as a friend.’ ‘No, Chumney, no; you have done your duty, and I shall do mine. The horse shall go back to Standish’s stable this afternoon, and Standish shall never cross my threshold again. But if you hear men talk of this at the club, be sure you tell them that my wife knew nothing about it. She has been the victim of a fop’s impertinence--that’s all.’ ‘I will, Mr. Piper. You may be sure of that.’ ‘And now you’d better make yourself scarce, Chumney. I’d rather be alone when my wife comes home from her ride.’ ‘You won’t be violent!’ urged Mr. Chumney. ‘No, Chumney, I am too angry to be violent. If I laid my little finger upon Standish it would mean murder. I feel it in me to do something dreadful. Don’t you be frightened, Chum. I shall treat him with the utmost civility. I shall only let him understand that his little game is found out. Good-bye.’ Mr. Chumney would have preferred to remain. He had an idea that his friend wanted him, in this crisis of his domestic life; but Mr. Piper thought otherwise, and was too resolute a man to allow himself to be overruled. So Chumney went away, unrefreshed and disheartened. He did not go back to Great Yafford immediately, but stopped at the “Crown” to regale himself with a temperate luncheon of bread and cheese and ale. CHAPTER XIX. A SHORT RECKONING.