He looked in wonder at Connie.

“No, no!” she said hastily. “Only that old friendship, quite simple, no love.”

“Then why should the fellow take the blame? If he’s had nothing out of you?”

“Some men are chivalrous and don’t only count what they get out of a woman,” said Hilda.

“One for me, eh? But who’s the johnny?”

“A friend whom we’ve known since we were children in Scotland, an artist.”

“Duncan Forbes!” he said at once, for Connie had talked of him. “And how would you shift the blame on to him?”

“They could stay together in some hotel, or she could even stay in his apartment.”

“Seems to me a lot of fuss for nothing,” he said.