Nancy paused. "It may sound conceited," she replied, "but I should say he was more angry and disappointed than any one I ever saw in my life." "I can quite believe it," said Colin. "You're just the sort of girl who'd make a man feel like that." She shook her head. "I'm not trying to be modest, Colin. I know I'm pretty--even other women have told me so--but I assure you my looks have got nothing to do with the matter. Do you suppose that a girl doesn't know when a man is really in love with her? Major Fenton doesn't care that for me." She snapped her fingers. "I shouldn't wonder if you're right," agreed Colin. "A chap with a face like that could hardly have much capacity for romance. I should say that champagne was more in his line." "All the same," said Nancy, "he's quite serious about wanting to marry me, and, what's more, he's made up his mind that he's going to do it." "How do you mean?" inquired Colin. "Did he turn nasty when you told him it was a wash-out?" "Very nasty," said Nancy calmly. "He accused me of all sorts of things, my chief crime being that I've allowed myself to be influenced by you." "Well, I don't want to brag," admitted Colin modestly, "but I've certainly done my best. Does he know that I'm taking Mark's practice?" She nodded. "Yes, I'd told him at the beginning of dinner. I suppose that was what put the idea into his head." She stopped. "Colin," she said, "don't think me stupid and melodramatic, but do you know, I am really rather frightened. There was something in the way he spoke about you, something that made me feel as if--oh, I know it sounds ridiculous--but as if you were in actual danger." Colin sat back and smiled contentedly. "This is too good to be true," he observed. "I've been longing to punch his head ever since he told you that lie about my leaving the hospital." "But you don't understand," persisted Nancy. "He wouldn't try anything himself, of course; he's much more likely to pay someone else to do it. You go about alone all over the place, and in a rough neighbourhood like Shadwell----" "You needn't be anxious," interrupted Colin. "I shall keep my eyes open, I promise you. If Fenton's got hold of the idea that I'm in his way, I can quite believe he'll stick at nothing." He paused. "What beats me altogether," he added, "is why he wants to make you his wife. You haven't the least doubt that he's really in earnest?" "Not the least. He even went so far as talking about a special license, and suggesting that we should be married this week." "That makes it fishier still," said Colin, frowning. He stared thoughtfully at his plate for a moment or two, and then suddenly pushed back his chair. "I know what I shall do," he continued. "I shall tell Marsden the whole story and ask him for his advice. I'm perfectly certain there's some damned crooked business at the back of it."