‘Why do you say that? The sum is not a large one. And think! You will get rid of me for ever. What happiness! There will be nothing then to hinder you from marrying that woman whom I saw in your arms. Oh! I am not in the least jealous, although I love you so dearly, and although’—here she glanced at herself in the chimney-glass—‘that woman is not half so good-looking as I am. No one in this house but she knows that I am your wife. You have only to swear to her that I am an impostor, and she will believe you—we women are such easy fools where we love!—and will marry you. Que dites vous, cher Oscar?’ ‘Impossible.’ ‘_Peste!_ I have no patience with you. You will never have such an offer again. Mais je comprends. Although your words are so cruel, you love me too well to let me go. As for that woman whom I saw you kissing, I will think no more of her. You did not know I was so near, and I forgive you.’ Here she turned to the glass again, gave the strings of her bonnet a little twist, and smoothed her left eyebrow. ‘Make haste, then, my darling husband, and introduce your wife to your fine friends, as a gentleman ought to do. I will ring the bell.’ Mr Boyd rose and pushed back his chair. ‘Pardon me—you will do nothing of the kind,’ he said, more sternly than he had yet spoken. ‘It is not my intention to introduce you to any one in this house. It would be useless. We start for London in a couple of hours. I have some final preparations to make, and will leave you for a few minutes. Meanwhile, I must request that you will not quit this room.’ She clapped her gloved hands together and laughed a shrill discordant laugh. ‘And do you really think, Oscar Boyd, that I am the kind of woman to submit to all this? You ought to know me better—far better.’ Then with one of those sudden changes of mood which were characteristic of her, she went on: ‘And yet, perhaps—as I have heard some people say—a wife’s first duty is submission. Perhaps her second is, never to leave her husband. _Eh bien!_ You shall have my submission, but—I will never leave you. If you go to Chili, I will follow you there, as I have followed you here. I will follow you to the ends of the earth! Do you hear? I will haunt you wherever you go! I will dog your footsteps day and night! Everywhere I will proclaim myself as your wife!’ She nodded her head at him meaningly three times, when she had finished her tirade. Standing with one hand resting on the back of his chair, while the other toyed with his watch-guard, he listened to her attentively, but without any visible emotion. ‘You will be good enough not to leave this room till my return,’ he said; and without another word, he went out and shut the door behind him.