'Well, now I want to marry,' he said, 'and I come to you for your help. If you had been in my position, I would have helped you.' 'Thanks. Well?' 'You know it was a devilish awkward moment last night. And you made it worse. You laughed. You shouldn't have done that.' Dorothy's face relaxed. 'I couldn't help it,' she said. 'Dramatically, it was perfect, and so funny. Harold, if you could have seen your own face of blank amazement, I really believe you would have laughed too.' He frowned. 'A pal ought to help a man out,' he said. 'I'm sure you went out pretty quick,' she interpolated. 'Oh, don't peashoot me,' he said. 'Now, a word from you will help me. I can't offer any explanation to Mrs. Massington, simply because, if I tried, she would be convinced there is something to explain. You can. A half word from you will do it. Represent me as your business manager--very business--with an urgent question to ask, and in my stupid, unconventional American way, it not occurring to me that there was any impropriety----' 'And my laugh? How shall I explain that?' 'Because it did occur to you what construction Mrs. Massington would put on it. Because my face of horror when I saw what I had done was so funny. You said so yourself.' Dorothy paused. 'In other words,' said she slowly, 'I am to tell Mrs. Massington, either directly or by implication, that you and I are you and I, not we--that--just that.' 'Quite so,' he said, 'and very neatly put.' She sat up. 'I refuse,' she said. 'Why? For what possible reason?' 'For a reason you couldn't appreciate.' 'Let me try.' 'I can't explain it even. But the outline is this: I respect and like Sybil Massington, therefore I will not assist you to marry her. It is not my business to open her eyes--you may marry her if you can--but neither is it my business to close them. Even if you wished it, I would not marry you myself, because I don't think you would be a--well, a satisfactory husband. So I will not help you.' 'Bilton's face was clearly given him to conceal his thoughts. On this occasion it expressed nothing whatever, though he thought a good deal. 'You want to stand in my light, then,' he said. 'Not at all, only I won't hold the candle for you.' 'You refuse to tell the truth to Mrs. Massington; you refuse to tell her what you know--namely, that I came to your room last night merely to congratulate you on your success?' 'I refuse to tell her a fag-end of the truth like that--a truth that is designed to deceive.' His eye wandered round the room before he replied, and in its course fell on the grate. To-day also there was a torn letter lying in it. A slight tinge of colour came into his face. 'I can't understand you,' he said. 'As far as I know, you on the whole wish me well; you have assured me that you would not marry me yourself. What do you want, then? Do you want to be paid for doing it? If you are not unreasonable in your demands, I will meet them.' She got up, her eyes blazing.