“You and Jack can both go to hell!” he said. “You’ve been psychoanalyzing the situation over a couple of beers in your spare time. A couple of cocktail-hour psychologists. Oh, don’t think I can’t see it. Well, I don’t give a damn for what you think. I love Marcie!” He was shouting. “I love her! And I’d like to know why the hell she doesn’t love _me_ any more. _Why_, Laura? _You_ tell me. Why would she rather stay home with you at night than go out with me? Why does she talk about Laura, Laura, Laura all the time? Laura reads this, Laura does that, Laura says! God, I’m sick of it!” His ugly suspicions exploded in her face. “She doesn’t, Burr, you’re mistaken.” “Mistaken!” he roared, his face turning scarlet. “Mistaken! Oh, you’re a bitch, Laura! Mistaken! And she won’t make love to me any more. She won’t see me. You’re the only one she gives a damn about. She can’t get enough of you at home, she’s got to get you a job in her own office. Yes, she told me about it,” he interrupted himself, when Laura gave a little gasp. “Burr, you fool, you’re making things up,” Laura said. She looked cold and controlled, but there was a terror inside her that he couldn’t see. She rose in her seat and faced him, their faces not a foot apart. “Now get out of here.” It had worked before with other men. It had to work now with Burr. She would give him no satisfaction. “Don’t tell me you’re not up to some God-damn funny business,” he growled. “I’m not up to any God-damn funny business,” she replied quietly. “Then what’s all this crap about touching tongues? In the dark? In bed? Why does Marcie follow you around like you were Svengali?” “She doesn’t.” “Don’t tell me she doesn’t!” he shouted in a fury, bringing his fist down with a huge thump on her desk. “I know she does. I know!” “Burr, you’re insane with jealousy.” “What’s going on between you two?” “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’m a bad liar, you said it yourself. If I had ever touched Marcie I couldn’t lie about it.” She glared at him, her face a mask, almost white; her eyes brilliant and her body tense. “You want her. Admit it.” He was quiet now, but it was the quiet of hatred. “I won’t admit anything. Who the hell are you? I don’t owe you any explanations.” “She’s my wife.” “So she’s your wife. She’s _my_ roommate. She prefers to live with me.” Laura was dangerously near throwing her advantage in his face. “You _are_ queer! By God, I knew it!” “How dare you!” And the hot blood came to Laura’s face. “Get out of here! You bastard!” “All right, deny it, then!” “I’m not accountable to you, Burr. I won’t admit or deny anything. I don’t have to. I’ll call the police if you don’t get out of here. I’ll sue you for libel if you make that accusation in public. I never laid a hand on Marcie.” “That’s not what Marcie said.” For a shocked second Laura was unable to move or respond. Then she gasped and staggered a little. There was a terrible silence, heavy with the awful meaning of his words.