“People in New York have the faculty of getting on their feet again quickly after financial reverses,” said Lyons, mildly.  “Like as not some of Williams’s friends have enabled him to make a fresh start.”

“So it seems,” Selma answered, sternly.  She sat back in her chair with a discouraged air and neglected her truffled chicken.  “It isn’t right; it isn’t decent.”

Lyons was puzzled by her demeanor.  “Why should you care what they do?” he asked.  “We can easily avoid them for the future.”

“Because—­because, James Lyons, I can’t bear to see godless people triumph.  Because it offends me to see a man and woman, who are practically penniless through their own evil courses, and should be discredited everywhere, able to resume their life of vanity and extravagance without protest.”

While she was speaking Selma suddenly became aware that her eyes had met those of Dr. George Page, who was passing their table on his way out.  Recognition on both sides came at the same moment, and Selma turned in her chair to greet him, cutting off any hope which he may have had of passing unobserved.  She was glad of the opportunity to show the company that she was on familiar terms with a man so well known, and she had on her tongue what she regarded as a piece of banter quite in keeping with his usual vein.

“How d’y do, Dr. Page?  We haven’t met for a long time.  You do not know my husband, Governor Lyons, I think.  Dr. Page used to be our family physician when I lived in New York, James.  Everyone here knows that he has a very large practice.”

Selma was disposed to be gracious and sprightly, for she felt that Dr. Page must surely be impressed by her appearance of prosperity.

“I had heard of your marriage, and of your husband’s election.  I congratulate you.  You are living in Benham, I believe, far from this hurly-burly?”

“Yes, a little bird told me the other day that a no less distinguished person than Dr. Page had been seen in Benham twice during the last three months.  Of course a Governor’s wife is supposed to know everything which goes on, and for certain reasons I was very much interested to hear this bit of news.  I am a very discreet woman, doctor.  It shall go no further.”

The physician’s broad brow contracted slightly, but his habitual self-control concealed completely the inclination to strangle his bright-eyed, over-dressed inquisitor.  He was the last man to shirk the vicissitudes of playful speech, and he preferred this mood of Selma’s to her solemn style, although his privacy was invaded.

“I should have remembered,” he said, “that there is nothing in the world which Mrs. Lyons does not know by intuition.”

“Including the management of a hospital, Dr. Page.  Perhaps you don’t know that I am the managing trustee of a large hospital?”

“Yes, I was informed of that in Benham.  I should scarcely venture to tell you what my little bird said.  It was an old fogy of a bird, with a partiality for thorough investigation and scientific methods, and a thorough distrust of the results of off-hand inspiration in the treatment of disease.”