"Are you strong enough, Master Giles?"
"Yes, you old tyrant.
I hope to be up and about in a week."
Trim shook his grey head.
He was rather a pessimist, and did not believe in too sudden recoveries, insisting that such did not last.
"You'll have a relapse, sir, and be worse than ever."
Ware laughed, knowing Trim's ways, and motioned him out of the room.
When the old servant left, grumbling that his master should be disturbed, Giles began to wonder what had brought Morley back from Brighton.
Perhaps he had come to speak of Daisy and her untimely end; but he had already, on a previous occasion, said all that was to be said about that matter.
Ware sincerely mourned Daisy, for in a way he had been fond of her.
Still, he could not but confess that a marriage between them would have been a mistake, and that drastic as was the cutting of the Gordian knot, it relieved him from an impossible position.
His love for Anne would always have stood between himself and the unfortunate girl, and her jealousy would have ruined both their lives.
Certainly he saw no chance of making Anne his wife, seeing that she was a fugitive and accused of a terrible crime.
Nevertheless, since he had not to marry Daisy, the situation was less difficult.
But Ware, his heart aching for the woman he loved, found cold comfort in this reasoning.
Morley entered, looking ruddy and cheerful, quite his old self, in fact.
Evidently the sea air and the change had assuaged his grief to a considerable extent, and Giles could not help remarking cynically on his quick recovery.
"I thought you were fond of Daisy," he said reproachfully.
"I was, and so was my wife," answered Morley, taking a seat beside the bed. "But what's done can't be undone, and I have been trying to get over my sorrow.
But in spite of my looks, Ware, I have my bad moments.
And you?"
"I sincerely mourn for the poor girl.
It is terrible that she should be cut off so suddenly.
But I am just as sorry for Miss Denham, if not more sorry.
It is those who are left behind that suffer most, Morley."
"Humph!" said the little man thoughtfully, "then you did love Miss Denham?"
"Morley"—Giles started up on his elbow—"what do you mean?"
"I am simply repeating what Daisy said."
"She had a monomania on the subject," said Ware uneasily. "I never gave her any cause for jealousy."
"Would you have married her had she lived?"
"Certainly," said Ware coldly. "I promised my father that the daughter of his old friend should be my wife."
"I am sure you would have acted honorably," said Morley gravely, "but it is just as well that you did not marry the girl.
I think she had some reason to be jealous of Miss Denham."
Ware groaned.
"I tried my best to——" He broke off with a frown. "This is my private business, Morley.
You have no right to pry into these things."
Morley shrugged his shoulders.
"As you please.
I shall say no more.
But I don't expect you'll see Miss Denham again."
"I don't expect I shall.
Please leave her name out of this conversation."
"For the moment I am agreeable to do so.
But as I believe her to be guilty, I must ask you a question or two."
"I shall answer no questions," responded Giles violently. "Miss Denham is innocent."
"Then why did she fly?"
"I don't know.
If I can only find her, I shall ask her to come back and face the worst.
She can explain."
"She will have to when she is caught.