human
I saw the general going into the Clarendon about two o'clock, said a gentleman.
gpt
He's dining with some friend, most probably.
human
I hear, remarked another,
gpt
How?
human
In what way?
gpt
Tell us about it,
human
I didn't get anything like a clear story. But there was some trouble about his wife.
gpt
About his wife?
human
What about his wife?
gpt
He thought some one too intimate with her, I believe. A brother officer, if I am not mistaken. Some old flame, perhaps. But I couldn't learn any of the particulars.
human
Ah! That accounts for their singular conduct this morning. Was there much of a row?
gpt
I didn't say anything about a row, was the rather sharp reply.
human
I only said that I heard that the general had acted strangely, and that there had been some trouble about his wife.
gpt
What was the trouble?
human
Couldn't learn any of the particulars, only that he took his wife from a gentleman's arm in a rude kind of way, and left the party.
gpt
Oh! that accounts for their not coming home in a carriage,
human
Perhaps so. But who said they didn't ride home?
gpt
Mr. Craig. He and Mrs. Craig saw them as they came to the door, covered with snow. They were walking.
human
Oh, you were at the party, Mr. Craig? Did you see or hear anything about this affair?
gpt
Nothing, replied Mr. Craig.
human
If there had been any trouble, I should most likely have heard something of it.
gpt
I had my information from a gentleman who was there,
human
I don't question that, replied Mr. Craig.
gpt
A trifling incident but half understood will often give rise to exaggerated reports--so exaggerated that but little of the original truth remains in them. The general may have done something under the excitement of wine that gave color to the story now in circulation. I think that very possible. But I don't believe the affair to be half so bad as represented.