 to me. You're on
the point of moving, I suppose?«
    »Yes, I am.«
    Reardon tried to speak in quite a simple way, with no admission of
embarrassment. He was not successful, and to his visitor the tone seemed rather
offensive.
    »I suppose you'll let Amy know your new address?«
    »Certainly. Why should I conceal it?«
    »No, no; I didn't mean to suggest that. But you might be taking it for
granted that - that the rupture was final, I thought.«
    There had never been any intimacy between these two men. Reardon regarded
his wife's brother as rather snobbish and disagreeably selfish; John Yule looked
upon the novelist as a prig, and now of late as a shuffling, untrustworthy
fellow. It appeared to John that his brother-in-law was assuming a manner wholly
unjustifiable, and he had a difficulty in behaving to him with courtesy.
Reardon, on the other hand, felt injured by the turn his visitor's remarks were
taking, and began to resent the visit altogether.
    »I take nothing for granted,« he said coldly. »But I'm afraid nothing is to
be gained by a discussion of our difficulties. The time for that is over.«
    »I can't quite see that. It seems to me that the time has just come.«
    »Please tell me, to begin with, do you come on Amy's behalf?«
    »In a way, yes. She hasn't sent me, but my mother and I are so astonished at
what is happening that it was necessary for one or other of us to see you.«
    »I think it is all between Amy and myself.«
    »Difficulties between husband and wife are generally best left to the people
themselves, I know. But the fact is, there are peculiar circumstances in the
present case. It can't be necessary for me to explain further.«
    Reardon could find no suitable words of reply. He understood what Yule
referred to, and began to feel the full extent of his humiliation.
    »You mean, of course -« he began; but his tongue failed him.
    »Well, we should really like to know how long it is proposed that Amy shall
remain with her mother.«
    John was perfectly self-possessed; it took much to disturb his equanimity.
He smoked his cigarette, which was in an amber mouth-piece, and seemed to enjoy
its flavour. Reardon found himself observing the
