And now, Theophila following upon our heels——? JOHN. It is a most unfortunate accident—— MRS. CLOYS. [_Eyeing him penetratingly._] Mr. Allingham, you have no doubt whatever of the absolute genuineness of my niece’s excuse for calling upon you? JOHN. Oh, Mrs. Cloys——! MRS. CLOYS. [_Sitting._] Yes, I admit that I came here to-night to ask you to pledge your word to us that Theo should run no further risk from her—her acquaintanceship with you; to entreat you, if she should be so base, so abandoned—— JOHN. You mean you thought it possible, probable, that this lady had run away from her husband and friends with the deliberate intention of joining me—me! [MRS. CLOYS _covers her eyes with her handkerchief_.] Great Heaven, I suppose there _is_ no living soul who will believe in an honest friendship between a young man and a young woman! MRS. CLOYS. There are certain rules for the conduct of friendship, Mr. Allingham—— JOHN. [_Excitedly._] Rules! The world is getting choked with rules for the conduct of everything and every body! What’s the matter with the world that a woman has to lose her character and paint her face before she is entitled to tell a man her troubles, and hear his in return, across a dying fire, by lamplight, when the streets are still and a few words of sympathy and encouragement stir one like a sudden peal of bells——? [_He stands by the fire, bowing his head upon the mantelpiece._ MRS. CLOYS. [_Looking at him, and speaking in a low voice._] Ah! a dying fire, the lamplight, the still streets——! The world is what it is, Mr. Allingham. JOHN. Yes, and it’s a damnable world! QUAIFE _enters_. QUAIFE. The lady has arrived, sir. MRS. CLOYS _rises_. JOHN. [_To_ QUAIFE.] When I ring, show her in here. QUAIFE _withdraws_. MRS. CLOYS. [_Agitatedly._] Mr. Allingham, you will not let Theo slip through my fingers; you won’t let her escape me——? [_Looking at him._] Oh, I will trust you so far. JOHN. You may. I only ask you to allow me to have my interview with Mrs. Fraser undisturbed. MRS. CLOYS. Ah, if you knew how I hate the idea of this meeting between you two! [_Turning sharply._] I’ve a feeling that something evil is going to result from it——! JOHN. I can only repeat, you’re wrong in what you think of me—[_turning away_]—wrong, every one of you. MRS. CLOYS.