The change that came over Sir John's face at these words was indescribable. He started to his feet, his face black with rage, his eyes flaming as he seized Theodora violently by the arm. "How dare you?" he yelled, almost frothing at the mouth. "How dare I?" asked Theodora, carefully putting the poodle in Sir John's vacant chair. "Now, keep quiet, Hector. Because I want to know and I'm going to find out." "Very well," answered Sir John, recovering his self-possession. But his cold fury was worse than his hot anger. A woman less intrepid than Theodora would have sunk under the appalling glare of his eye. "Listen, then, and I will tell you. But first put down that infernal dog." Theodora had seated herself with Hector in her lap, but she thought it wisest to let him go, as it was a case where force could be used to her disadvantage. "Just wait a minute," she said briskly. "It's his bed-time, anyway. I'll ring for James," and suiting the action to the words, she went forward and rung the bell like a church warden. James appeared in a twinkling, and Theodora confided the poodle to his care with many injunctions. Then she returned to her seat. "Now, madam, I will begin." "Do," said Theodora pleasantly. "I'm dying to hear." "You shall be gratified," answered Sir John darkly. "My first wife was thought to be a very amiable and attractive woman. We lived happily together until her indiscreet curiosity--mark well my words--about that closet, caused her to try the lock with a chisel. The chisel slipped and cut an artery. She was found weltering in her blood." "How awkward!" exclaimed Theodora, spreading her handkerchief out in her lap, and examining it as if she had never seen it before. "Of course I mean how awkward for you." "It was a great deal more awkward for her," gloomily remarked Sir John--and continued: "My second, was a gifted creature, but she, too, got the devil in her." "She must have caught it from--hem--!--hem!" replied Theodora, coughing gently. Sir John glowered at her and kept on. "She, too, longed to see the inside of the closet. Her curiosity--do you hear me, madam?--kept her awake, and she spent her nights wandering about the house. One night she missed a step at the top of the stairs and broke her neck. There was no one but myself in the house except the servants." "Good gracious!" cried Theodora. "How frightened you must have been!" "My third--" "Oh, yes--Fatima--my latest predecessor--" "Well, there was an absurd rumor at the time of Fatima's death--she, too, died of curiosity--that I had been killed by her brothers. Of course the truth came out after a number of unpleasant things had been printed about me. My Uncle Longacre advised me to sue the papers for libel. And now, madam," he said with a malignant smile, "do you still wish to see the closet?"