Grace Lovell was lying asleep when a hansom cab drove up. Travers opened the door of the cottage with a latch-key, and bursting into her room told her to give him a couple of sovereigns without delay. She scrambled up, opened her little desk, and produced the money. He paid his cab, then came in, sat down heavily on the side of the bed, and breathed hard for a moment or two. Suddenly he fell forward on the floor. She sprang to his side, wetted his face, loosened his collar, held smelling salts to his nose, but for a long time it seemed to her his heart had altogether ceased to beat. Presently he moved slightly, and she renewed her efforts to revive him, calling him by all the endearing terms she could think of. At last he put out his arm and held her gently against him, whispering that she was his darling wife. She nestled close to him and kept perfectly still, waiting for him to speak. After a long time he opened his eyes and sat up; she begged him to lie down on the bed, which he did, but it was some time before he spoke. Then he said, ‘It’s all up, Gracie, I’m a ruined man. I shall have to go away.’ ‘What has happened, my dearest?’ ‘They have done for me between them. You know I told you that I knew a good deal more than some people would like to set about; well, they came to hear of it, and they have made use of one of their agents, a despicable man, to ruin me in the eyes of society. He induced me to play _écarté_ with him; he manipulated the cards in such a way that I should appear to be cheating; then he denounced me before the whole club, and they believed him. I had to go.’ ‘O George, why didn’t you turn the tables on him, and tell them what he had done?’ ‘My dear child, it’s no use a woman supposing she can understand these things; you must take what I tell you on trust; don’t keep making idiotic suggestions, and asking idiotic questions. I tell you it was so, that should be enough for you.’ ‘Yes, George. What are you going to do?’ ‘God knows.’ ‘George.’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Are you sure you didn’t do it?’ ‘Didn’t what?’ ‘Didn’t cheat.’ ‘Of course not, of course not! Oh, do go to sleep. I’ve talked until I’m wearied out. I shall go up to the house now.’ ‘Are you well enough?’ ‘Don’t bother,’ and he went out banging the door after him. He lay in bed all day on Monday. About five o’clock he ordered some tea, and played with little Pierre, then he got up and dined. He did not go down to the cottage until about ten o’clock. He found Grace busily engaged packing up. He lounged in, and said, ‘What _are_ you doing?’ ‘I am going up to London.’ ‘What for?’ ‘I am going back to Horsham’s Theatre.’ ‘No, you are not.’ ‘Yes, I am.’ ‘How dare you speak to me like this?’ ‘Because I dare speak to any one like this, when I do not love them.’ ‘Oh! oh! that’s it, is it? We’ll see,’ and he came towards her threateningly.