CRAVEN. At your service, Paramore: at your service. (Craven and Paramore go into the consulting room. Julia turns her head and stares insolently at Charteris. His nerves play him false: he is completely out of countenance in a moment. She rises suddenly. He starts, and comes hastily forward between the table and the bookcase. She crosses to that side behind the table; and he immediately crosses to the opposite side in front of it, dodging her.) CHARTERIS (nervously). Don't, Julia. Now don't abuse your advantage. You've got me here at your mercy. Be good for once; and don't make a scene. JULIA (contemptuously). Do you suppose I am going to touch you? CHARTERIS. No. Of course not. (She comes forward on her side of the table. He retreats on his side of it. She looks at him with utter scorn; sweeps across to the couch; and sits down imperially. With a great sigh of relief he drops into Paramore's chair.) JULIA. Come here. I have something to say to you. CHARTERIS. Yes? (He rolls the chair a few inches towards her.) JULIA. Come here, I say. I am not going to shout across the room at you. Are you afraid of me? CHARTERIS. Horribly. (He moves the chair slowly, with great misgiving, to the end of the couch.) JULIA (with studied insolence). Has that woman told you that she has given you up to me without an attempt to defend her conquest? CHARTERIS (whispering persuasively). Shew that you are capable of the same sacrifice. Give me up, too. JULIA. Sacrifice! And so you think I'm dying to marry you, do you? CHARTERIS. I am afraid your intentions have been honourable, Julia. JULIA. You cad! CHARTERIS (with a sigh). I confess I am something either more or less than a gentleman, Julia. You once gave me the benefit of the doubt. JULIA. Indeed! _I_ never told you so. If you cannot behave like a gentleman, you had better go back to the society of the woman who has given you up--if such a cold-blooded, cowardly creature can be called a woman. (She rises majestically; he makes his chair fly back to the table.) I know you now, Leonard Charteris, through and through, in all your falseness, your petty spite, your cruelty and your vanity. The place you coveted has been won by a man more worthy of it. CHARTERIS (springing up, and coming close to her, gasping with eagerness). What do you mean? Out with it. Have you accep-- JULIA. I am engaged to Dr. Paramore. CHARTERIS (enraptured). My own Julia! (He attempts to embrace her.) JULIA (recoiling--he catching her hands and holding them). How dare you! Are you mad? Do you wish me to call Dr. Paramore?