"I don't want to say anything about myself; that would be rather out of place," began Comethup in his slow, soft voice. "But I want to speak of some one else--of your wife. I heard, quite by accident, that you had deserted her; left her, for aught that you cared, to starve; that you had come here after another woman. I suppose you won't--won't think it worth while to deny all that?" "Why should I? You seem to have got the story pretty accurately. What's it to do with you?" "Everything," replied Comethup. "That's what has brought me here. You don't suppose I'd be racing about Paris for two or three days after _you_ for the pleasure of the thing, do you? I said I wasn't going to speak about myself, but I find I must. This girl, 'Linda, the sweetest and brightest it was ever a man's good fortune to win--this girl loves you; would give, I think, her immortal soul for you. Yet, at a whim, a caprice, you fling her aside, careless whether you break her heart, or----" "Break her heart! Hearts are not so easily broken; even I can tell you that, although I am a poet. Besides, what the devil's her heart got to do with you?" "More than you can understand. I think I'd give everything I have in the world to spare her any pain. I'm afraid you can't understand what that feeling is. I'd give my very soul to save her from tears or sorrow, to prevent any one of her ideals from being shattered. If I could die and know that in dying I gave her any greater happiness--well, my life wouldn't be worth an hour's purchase from this moment--Oh, I forgot; you don't understand all that. But there's one thing you shall understand: you're going back with me to London to-night." "Indeed? You seem to have made up your mind about that. If you take so deep an interest in 'Linda, why the devil don't you let me go my own way and--well, look after her yourself?" The words were nothing; it was the horrible smile that played about Brian's lips--the sneering suggestion that he knew of the love in the other man's mind, and triumphed in the knowledge; it was all this that maddened Comethup. With a cry he threw himself upon the other and forced him to his knees, and kept a grip upon his throat sufficient to stifle the life out of him had he kept it there long. "You coward! I've bandied words with you too long; I've told you things that are as far from your ken as the knowledge of the stars. Get up"--he dragged him to his feet and flung him off--"and get on that coat! I'll waste no more time in talking. I won't lose sight of you until I see you in your own home." "Well, and if I refuse?" said Brian sullenly, glaring at the other like a creature at bay.