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50 been bathing came up the steps and seated themselves, with much chattering, at a table near them. The waiter approached. Mr. Cupples rose, and, taking Trent's arm, led him to a long tennis-lawn at the side of the hotel.

'I have a reason for telling you all this,' began Mr. Cupples as they paced slowly up and down.

'Trust you for that,' rejoined Trent, carefully filling his pipe again. He lit it, smoked a little, and then said, 'I'll try and guess what your reason is, if you like.'

Mr. Cupples's face of solemnity relaxed into a slight smile. He said nothing.

'You thought it possible,' said Trent meditatively–'may I say you thought it practically certain?–that I should find out for myself that there had been something deeper than a mere conjugal tiff between the Mandersons. You thought that my unwholesome imagination would begin at once to play with the idea of Mrs. Manderson having something to do with the crime. Rather than that I should lose myself in barren speculations about this, you decided to tell me exactly how matters stood, and incidentally to impress upon