It is to be set down to the credit of Billy's nerves, that not only did he not revoke during that hand, but played with quite his usual brilliance. He had often claimed that the game had the advantage of enabling one to forget everything else in the world for the time being, and in this instance he was certainly justified. What was coming afterwards he had not the slightest idea, but for the present it did not concern him. In turn his partner dealt, passed, and Billy, after a little consideration, gave him no-trumps. The first card was led, Billy's hand exposed on the table, and at that moment, Billy being unoccupied, Jack rose. "Can you speak to me a minute without interrupting the game?" he asked. Silly Billy rose, looking exceedingly small and young. "Rather. Next room, I should think," he said. The two passed out, and Martyn spoke. "Well, I'm damned!" he said, and nobody contradicted him. The door of the next room shut behind the others, and Jack and Silly Billy found themselves simultaneously taking out their cigarette-cases. In the box on the table there was only one match, which Jack lit, and handed first to the other. Then he spoke. "I saw whom she was with," he remarked. "Glad you haven't got to ask me, then," said Silly Billy; "because I couldn't have told you." Jack threw the match into the fireplace. "Ah! you did mean my wife, then?" he said. Silly Billy, figuratively speaking, threw up his hand. "Very neatly done," he said. "You had me there. Now, what do you mean to do?" "Ask you a question or two first. Now, was that lie of your own invention, or did you get it passed on from another liar?" "You are using offensive language to me," observed Silly Billy. "I am. If you prefer to come back to the other room, I will use it there." Silly Billy smiled. The situation was becoming clearer to him. "As regards your question," he said, "what you call that lie was not of my own invention. I should also advise you for your own sake not to press me to tell who told me. I warn you that if you are offensive again, I shall. At present, I do not tell you by way of _amende_ for a speech which was indiscreet on my part. I ought to have looked round to see that you were not in the room. And that's how we stand." Jack knew perfectly well that Billy was no fool, and he weighed this speech for a moment in silence. "I don't understand," he said. "I think you are too crooked for me to follow. Perhaps it will be best and simplest if we go back to the other room. I can then box your ears in the presence of witnesses." At this Billy laughed outright.