"I saw very little of them between then and the marriage. August and part of September took them up to Scotland, while I stayed in London and worked. How I must have enjoyed working in those days! And when they came back I was busy with the production of a new play, and they too, I supposed, with the usual preparations. But Vitiali used often to drop in at my rooms at odd hours, and I asked him once if Fay had ever looked serious enough since that afternoon to write a tragedy; he showed his teeth in a smile, and said that I must have done her a great deal of good that day, 'Because, my dear Howard, she has never been gayer and more light-hearted as lately. I am very happy....' He could say those things, he had a way of charming you with his simplicity; and, anyway, there is nothing more charming in the world than a cultured foreigner--except, of course, a cultured Englishman. "Two nights before the wedding day, after ten o'clock, Fay rang me up on the telephone. 'I hope I am disturbing you,' she began sweetly. "'I just want to know, Howard,' the voice said, 'if you really are coming to see me married.' "'Well, I've intimated to your mother my decision to be present, and I've committed myself in writing, what's more.' "'Don't be silly, my dear! Whoever takes any notice of what _you_ write? You write much too well.' "'It's only that I had a vague idea,' she explained very gently, 'that you wouldn't be there.' Then, somehow, there was a short silence. That telephone silence, full of dim murmurings and the attention of two people! "'Why?' I asked abruptly. "'Don't be snappy with me, please, Howard,' the voice begged. 'I just wanted to know for certain, that's all.' "Queer things happen sometimes on a clear telephone about half-past ten at night. Voices seem to take their clothes off.... "'Well, as a matter of fact,' I began slowly. "'Yes?' It was scarcely a word, but a light low tremor of a question.... I put my lips very close to the mouthpiece and formed my words very clearly:-- "'Why don't you want me to come, Fay?' "I'm not sure about the little gasp, but only about the little voice, after a long second, saying, 'I don't know why, Howard.' "'Now that you've asked me I realise that I never intended to come,' I confessed. 'And I'm damned if I know why, either!... If I come at all I shall be among the crowd outside, admiring you and Carlo.' "'But aren't you quite, quite sure that at the last moment you won't regretfully find it impossible to come at all?' the voice seemed to plead. "'I'm beginning not to be sure of anything to-night,' I said fretfully. "'Poor Howard!' Ah, I knew that voice, the firmer one with the little caress of mischief over it! I made a quick grab at it. "'I say, you're going to write to me quite a lot, aren't you?' "'Not one line,' she answered firmly. "'But, Fay, you can't disappear from my life like that!' I protested heatedly. 'Of course you are going to write to me, aren't you?'