‘It’s all very well for you, Willis. But if you had to sit at home all day doing nothing, you wouldn’t find it so pleasant.’ ‘Get some novels.’ ‘I’m tired of novels,’ she replied, sighing. ‘So Yottle was with them?’ Rodman said musingly, a smile still on his face. ‘I wish I knew what terms they’ve come to with Eldon.’ ‘I wish I could do something to pay out that woman!’ exclaimed Alice bitterly. ‘She’s at the bottom of it all. She hates both of us. Dick ‘ud never have gone against you but for her.’ Rodman, extended in the low chair at full length, fixed an amused look on her. ‘You’d like to pay her out, eh?’ ‘Wouldn’t I just!’ ‘Ha! ha! what a vicious little puss you are! It’s a good thing I don’t tell you everything, or you might do damage.’ Alice turned to him with eagerness. ‘What do you mean?’ He let his head fall back, and laughed with a drunken man’s hilarity. Alice persisted with her question. ‘Come and sit here,’ Rodman said, patting his knee. Alice obeyed him. ‘What is it, Willis? What have you found out? Do tell me, there’s a dear!’ ‘I’ll tell you one thing, old girl: you’re losing your good looks. Nothing like what you were when I married you.’ She flushed and looked miserable. ‘I can’t help my looks. I don’t believe you care how I look.’ ‘Oh, don’t I, though! Why, do you think I’d have stuck to you like this if I didn’t? What was to prevent me from realising all the cash I could and clearing off, eh? ‘Twouldn’t have been the first--’ ‘The first what?’ Alice asked sharply. ‘Never mind. You see I didn’t do it. Too bad to leave the Princess in the lurch, wouldn’t it be?’ Alice seemed to have forgotten the other secret. She searched his face for a moment, deeply troubled, then asked: ‘Willis, I want to know who Clara is?’ He moved his eyes slowly, and regarded her with a puzzled look. ‘Clara? What Clara?’ ‘Somebody you know of. You’ve got a habit of talking in your sleep lately. You were calling out “Clara!” last night, and that’s the second time I’ve heard you.’ He was absent for a few seconds, then laughed and shook his head. ‘I don’t know anybody called Clara. It’s your mistake.’ ‘I’m quite sure it isn’t,’ Alice murmured discontentedly. ‘Well, then, we’ll say it is,’ he rejoined in a firmer voice. ‘If I talk in my sleep, perhaps it’ll be better for you to pay no attention. I might find it inconvenient to live with you.’ Alice looked frightened at the threat. ‘You’ve got a great many secrets from me,’ she said despondently. ‘Of course I have. It is for your good. I was going to tell you one just now, only you don’t seem to care to bear it.’ ‘Yes, yes, I do!’ Alice exclaimed, recollecting. ‘Is it something about Adela?’ He nodded. ‘Wouldn’t it delight you to go and get her into a terrible row with Dick?’ ‘Oh, do tell me! What’s she been doing?’