MABEL. [In a sort of agony] Oh! I couldn't--it looks like running away. We must stay and fight it! DANCY. Suppose I didn't get a verdict--you never can tell. MABEL. But you must--I was there all the time, with the door open. DANCY. Was it? MABEL. I'm almost sure. DANCY. Yes. But you're my wife. MABEL. [Bewildered] Ronny, I don't understand--suppose I'd been accused of stealing pearls! DANCY. [Wincing] I can't. MABEL. But I might--just as easily. What would you think of me if I ran away from it? DANCY. I see. [A pause] All right! You shall have a run for your money. I'll go and see old Twisden. MABEL. Let me come! [DANCY shakes his head] Why not? I can't be happy a moment unless I'm fighting this. DANCY puts out his hand suddenly and grips hers. DANCY. You are a little brick! MABEL. [Pressing his hand to her breast and looking into his face] Do you know what Margaret called you? RONNY. No. MABEL. A desperate character. DANCY. Ha! I'm not a tame cat, any more than she. The bell rings. MABEL goes out to the door and her voice is heard saying coldly. MABEL. Will you wait a minute, please? Returning. It's De Levis--to see you. [In a low voice] Let me see him alone first. Just for a minute! Do! DANCY. [After a moment's silence] Go ahead! He goes out into the bedroom. MABEL. [Going to the door, Right] Come in. DE LEVIS comes in, and stands embarrassed. Yes? DE LEVIS. [With a slight bow] Your husband, Mrs Dancy? MABEL. He is in. Why do you want to see him? DE LEVIS. He came round to my rooms just now, when I was out. He threatened me yesterday. I don't choose him to suppose I'm afraid of him. MABEL. [With a great and manifest effort at self-control] Mr De Levis, you are robbing my husband of his good name. DE LEVIS. [Sincerely] I admire your trustfulness, Mrs Dancy. MABEL. [Staring at him] How can you do it? What do you want? What's your motive? You can't possibly believe that my husband is a thief! DE LEVIS. Unfortunately. MABEL. How dare you? How dare you? Don't you know that I was in our bedroom all the time with the door open? Do you accuse me too? DE LEVIS. No, Mrs Dancy. MABEL. But you do. I must have seen, I must have heard. DE LEVIS. A wife's memory is not very good when her husband is in danger. MABEL. In other words, I'm lying. DE LEVIS. No. Your wish is mother to your thought, that's all. MABEL. [After staring again with a sort of horror, turns to get control of herself. Then turning back to him] Mr De Levis, I appeal to you as a gentleman to behave to us as you would we should behave to you. Withdraw this wicked charge, and write an apology that Ronald can show.