“Dear child, he has genius. You don’t think I believe that I have it. I wish I had; but I know it when I see it, and I honour it with all my heart. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. It’s a great burden to its possessors. We should be very tolerant with them, and very patient.” I stood apart, somewhat embarrassed by the domestic scene, and wondered why Stroeve had insisted on my coming with him. I saw that his wife was on the verge of tears. “But it’s not only because he’s a genius that I ask you to let me bring him here; it’s because he’s a human being, and he is ill and poor.” “I will never have him in my house—never.” Stroeve turned to me. “Tell her that it’s a matter of life and death. It’s impossible to leave him in that wretched hole.” “It’s quite obvious that it would be much easier to nurse him here,” I said, “but of course it would be very inconvenient. I have an idea that someone will have to be with him day and night.” “My love, it’s not you who would shirk a little trouble.” “If he comes here, I shall go,” said Mrs. Stroeve violently. “I don’t recognize you. You’re so good and kind.” “Oh, for goodness sake, let me be. You drive me to distraction.” Then at last the tears came. She sank into a chair, and buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook convulsively. In a moment Dirk was on his knees beside her, with his arms round her, kissing her, calling her all sorts of pet names, and the facile tears ran down his own cheeks. Presently she released herself and dried her eyes. “Leave me alone,” she said, not unkindly; and then to me, trying to smile: “What must you think of me?” Stroeve, looking at her with perplexity, hesitated. His forehead was all puckered, and his red mouth set in a pout. He reminded me oddly of an agitated guinea-pig. “Then it’s No, darling?” he said at last. She gave a gesture of lassitude. She was exhausted. “The studio is yours. Everything belongs to you. If you want to bring him here, how can I prevent you?” A sudden smile flashed across his round face. “Then you consent? I knew you would. Oh, my precious.” Suddenly she pulled herself together. She looked at him with haggard eyes. She clasped her hands over her heart as though its beating were intolerable. “Oh, Dirk, I’ve never since we met asked you to do anything for me.” “You know there’s nothing in the world that I wouldn’t do for you.” “I beg you not to let Strickland come here. Anyone else you like. Bring a thief, a drunkard, any outcast off the streets, and I promise you I’ll do everything I can for them gladly. But I beseech you not to bring Strickland here.” “But why?” “I’m frightened of him. I don’t know why, but there’s something in him that terrifies me. He’ll do us some great harm. I know it. I feel it. If you bring him here it can only end badly.” “But how unreasonable!” “No, no. I know I’m right. Something terrible will happen to us.” “Because we do a good action?”