“It has chafed you⁠—eh? I knew it would. I’ve watched you.” He chuckled beneath his breath. “And those fools never looked beneath the surface. One and all, they believed that John would cheat. John! They swallowed it tamely and never even guessed at the truth.”

“You, at least, did not believe?”

“I? Hardly. Knowing you for a weak fool and him for a quixotic fool, I rather jumped to conclusions.”

“Instead, you tried to throw the blame on him. I would to God you had exposed me!”

“So you have remarked. I confess I do not understand this heroic attitude. Why should I interfere in what was none of my business? What proof had I?”

“Why did you raise no demur? What motive had you?”

“I should have thought it fairly obvious.”

Richard stared at him, puzzled.