Page:Alice Stuyvesant - The Vanity Box.djvu/110

 which he really ought to have inquired, if only as a matter of form, he had let slide, rather than distress the bereaved husband; and there was one query in particular which he had felt bound, yet dreaded, to put. Perhaps, had Sir Ian spoken less brusquely, and looked less haughtily obstinate, he might have decided to waive it, with others, questioning later witnesses instead, as the whole county had always praised the devotion of the Herewards to one another. But as it was, feeling himself ill-used, suddenly he discovered that it was no longer so disagreeable a task to throw a certain question at Sir Ian s proud head.

"Were you invariably on affectionate terms with Lady Hereward?" he bluntly inquired.

Then, to the surprise of every one present, Sir Ian went from dark red to ghastly white. He looked as if he had been struck to the death. Not a man in the room but felt his nerves jump under the shock of a new and astounding suspicion.