From the farther room that noise persisted of monotonous and awful laughter. Marbridge ceased to swallow and grunted. Joan removed the glass and drew away without looking at Matthias. At a cost of considerable will-power, apparently, the wounded man collected himself and levelled at Matthias his louring, but now less dull, regard. "Oh, it's you, is it?" he said ungraciously. "Well, you'll do at a pinch.... I wanted Arlington ... but you if he couldn't be found." "Well," said Matthias stupidly, "I'm here.... The doctor's seen you, I suppose?" "Yes--did what he could for me--no use wasting effort--it's my cue to exit." "Oh, come! It's not as bad as that!" "The hell it ain't. The doctor knows--I know. Not that it matters. It was coming to me and I got it." "Where's the doctor?" Matthias insisted. "Why isn't he attending you now?" "He's in the other room ... trying to silence that crazy woman.... She plugged me and ... went into hysterics...." "Who?" "Nella Cardrow.... Had the devil of a time with her before doctor came ... trying to keep her from rushing out and giving herself up ... all this in the papers.... But all right now: we'll hush it up." "Then that's what you want of me?" "Wait," Marbridge grunted. "Where's that girl?" Joan moved back to his side. "What can I do?" she said; and these were all the words Matthias heard her utter from first to last of that business. Marbridge nodded at her with a curling lip: "You can get out!" She turned sharply and left the room, banging the door. "That's the kind _she_ is," Marbridge commented. "You were lucky to get rid of her as easy as you did.... Give me more brandy, will you, like a good fellow--and be stingy with the water. I've got to ... hold out a couple of hours more." Matthias served him. "I presume Venetia knows nothing about this, yet?" Having drunk, Marbridge shook his head. "Not yet. Now, listen.... You guessed it: I want you to help hush this up, for Venetia's sake.... Rotten mess--do no good if it gets in the papers--only humiliation for her. Will you--?" "What is it you want me to do?"