In answer to the mute question of her eyes, he growled, and threw himself into his study-chair. When she picked up the axe and bore it back to its place, he growled. When she pointed to the door, he growled again. She looked at his angry face, and she laughed gently. The last time we saw her she was pale and hysterical. She was now smiling, apparently in perfect health of body and ease of mind. Perhaps she was a very good actress--off the stage: perhaps she shook off things easily. Otherwise one does not always step from a highly nervous and hysterical condition to one of happiness and cheerfulness. 'There appears to have been a little unpleasantness,' she said softly. 'Something, apparently an axe--something hard and sharp--has been brought into contact with the door. It has been awkward for the door. There has been, I suppose, an earthquake.' He said nothing, but drummed the table with his fingers--a sign of impatient and enforced listening. 'Earthquakes are dangerous things, sometimes. Meanwhile, Alec, if I were you I would have the broken bits taken away.' She touched the bell on the table. 'Ford'--this was the name of the discreet man-servant--'will you kindly take the door, which you see is broken, off its hinges and send it away to be mended. We will manage with the curtain.' 'What do you want, Zoe?'--when this operation had been effected--'what is the important news you have to bring me? And why have you given up your berth? I suppose you think I am able to find you a place just by lifting up my little finger? And I hear you have gone without a moment's notice, just as if you had run away?' 'I did run away, Alec,' she replied. 'After what has--been done'--she caught her breath--'I was obliged to run away. I could no longer stay.' 'What has been done, then? Did Armorel tell you? No--she couldn't.' 'She has told me nothing. I have hardly seen her at all during the last few days. Of course, I know that you proposed to her--because you went off with that purpose; and that she refused you--because that was certain. And, now, don't begin scolding and questioning, because we have got something much more important to discuss. I have given up my charge of Armorel, and I have come here. If you possibly can, Alec, clear up your face a little, forget the earthquake, and behave with some attempt at politeness. I insist,' she added sharply, 'upon being treated with some pretence at politeness.' 'Mind, I am in no mood to listen to a pack of complaints and squabbles and jealousies.' 'Whatever mind you are in, my dear Alec, it wants the sweetening. You shall have no squabbles or jealousies. I will not even ask who brought along the earthquake--though, of course, it was an Angel in the House. They are generally the cause of all the earthquakes. Fortunately for you, I am not jealous. The important thing about which I want to talk to you is money, Alec--money.'