"Ah, but you mustn't go; really you mustn't," expostulated the Colonel, "or you'll make me feel I've intruded." Stanley felt that it was not his fault if that officer did not already possess those sentiments, and was about to stand to his decision, when Miss Fitzgerald pulled him down beside her, saying: "Don't talk nonsense, Jimsy. I'm dying to hear Bob's secrets, and he's been here five minutes already, and we haven't allowed him to get a word in edgewise." Thus admonished, the Secretary had no choice but to be an unwilling listener. "I'm sure I don't know why I should dignify my affairs by the name of secrets," began Darcy, with ill-attempted nonchalance, "or why I should be reticent about speaking of them, either. It's more than the Press will be in the next few days," and he laughed harshly. "My dear Bob!" exclaimed Miss Fitzgerald, with a horror that was meant to be assumed, but nevertheless had a touch of reality about it. "My dear Bob! I knew you were bad, but don't tell me you're as bad as all that!" "I'm afraid so," he replied. Then turning to Stanley, continued, "I suppose you've not the misfortune to be married?" "I'm a single man," replied the Secretary, who, under the circumstances, felt that a mere statement of fact was infinitely better than an expressed opinion. "Then of course you can't conceive the pleasures of anticipation which the prospect of the divorce court arouses in the mind of a husband." "I can imagine that the point of view would largely depend on his own status in the case." "You don't mean to tell me, Bob," cried Miss Fitzgerald, "that she's been foolish enough----!" "Oh, I'm the accused in the present indictment. But, fortunately for me, women are by nature inconsistent." "Why do you say that?" she asked. "Why? Because, having run away from my house and secured legal assistance in London to bring suit against me--well, on statutory grounds, she has, as a proof of her injuries, seen fit to take up her residence at the bachelor quarters of her Secretary of Legation." "What! Is she there now?" cried Miss Fitzgerald, her eyes flashing, as she turned them full on Stanley. That gentleman, who had foreseen this _dénouement_ from the first, half rose to his feet with a view of crushing his defamer, but the Colonel's next statement so staggered him that he sunk back in his seat. "No," replied that officer, in answer to Miss Fitzgerald's question. "No. London life didn't seem to agree with them, so they've made a little expedition into Sussex together; in fact, they're both here, or hereabouts." "What do you say?" cried Belle, quite dazed by this astounding declaration.