“I have less bashfulness,” said he, fiercely. “I 'll venture to say a word on _yours_. I 've told you scores of times--I told you in India, I told you at the Cape, I told you when we were quarantined at Trieste, and I tell you now--that you never really captivated any man much under seventy. When they are tottering on to the grave, bald, blear-eyed, and deaf, you are perfectly irresistible; and I wish--really I say it in all good faith--you would limit the sphere of your fascinations to such very frail humanities. Trafford only became spooney after that smash on the skull; as he grew better, he threw off his delusions,--did n't he?” “So he told me,” said she, with perfect calm. “By Jove! that was a great fluke of mine,” cried he, aloud. “That was a hazard I never so much as tried. So that this fellow had made some sort of a declaration to you?” “I never said so.” “What was it then that you _did_ say, Madam? Let us understand each other clearly.” “Oh, I am sure we need no explanations for that,” said she, rising, and moving towards the door. “I want to hear about this before you go,” said he, standing between her and the door. “You are not going to pretend jealousy, are you?” said she, with an easy laugh. “I should think not,” said he, insolently. “That is about one of the last cares will ever rob me of my rest at night. I 'd like to know, however, what pretext I have to send a ball through your young friend.” “Oh, as to that peril, it will not rob _me_ of a night's rest,” said she, with such a look of scorn and contempt as seemed actually to sicken him, for he staggered back as though about to fall and she passed out ere he could recover himself. “It is to be no quarter between us then! Well, be it so,” cried he, as he sank heavily into a seat. “She's playing a bold game when she goes thus far.” He leaned his head on the table, and sat thus so long that he appeared to have fallen asleep; indeed, the servant who came to tell him that tea was served, feared to disturb him, and retired without speaking. Far from sleeping, however, his head was racked with a maddening pain, and he kept on muttering to himself, “This is the second time--the second time she has taunted me with cowardice. Let her beware! Is there no one will warn her against what she is doing?” “Missis says, please, sir, won't you have a cup of tea?” said the maid timidly at the door. “No; I'll not take any.” “Missis says too, sir, that Miss Blanche is tuk poorly, and has a shiverin' over her, and a bad headache, and she hopes you 'll send in for Dr. Tobin.” “Is she in bed?” “Yes, sir, please.”