“Do you mean to say,” she said, “that you consider a man is justified in deserting his wife because she wears a red dressing-gown and washes her teeth?” “Certainly,” said Lord Manton. “If you consider the matter fairly and impartially, without bias in favour of either sex, you will see that there can’t be two opinions about it. The mere act of wearing a dressing-gown, red or blue, is of course nothing in itself. But considered as an expression of a certain spirit, of what I may perhaps call the spirit of persistent, puritanical domesticity; regarded as an evidence of an oppressive kind of civilized respectability, taken in conjunction with a whole series of trifling, or apparently trifling, mental and physical habits,--ordering dinner, for instance, engaging servants, doing needlework, paying weekly bills, keeping a visiting list, taking a holiday every year at the seaside--you will, I am sure, understand the sort of things I mean--taken in conjunction with these and regarded as an expression of the kind of spirit which takes a delight in doing these things and doing them continuously year after year--considered in this way, the wearing of a red dressing-gown does justify a man, a certain sort of man, in deserting his wife. You catch my meaning, I am sure, Miss Blow.” Once more Miss Blow was silent from sheer astonishment. Then, after a pause, she spoke, and Mr. Goddard, like the governor Felix before the Apostle Paul, trembled. Lord Manton, although it was to him that her remark was specially addressed, bore himself more bravely. “You think it very fine,” she said, “to bully and badger a helpless girl, and to allow innocent men to be murdered under your very eyes. But you’ll have to answer for it. You’ll be held responsible, both of you. It’s--it’s intolerable.” “My dear Miss Blow,” said Lord Manton. “Don’t dare to say ‘my dear’ to me.” “I didn’t mean it,” said Lord Manton, quite truthfully. “Nothing was further from my mind than any idea of expressing affection, although of course I have a great regard and esteem for you. But do try to be reasonable. We’re quite ready, both of us--I’m sure I may speak for Mr. Goddard as well as myself--to do anything in our power. But what can we do? What do you suggest our doing? What do you want us to do?” “Arrest the murderers,” said Miss Blow. “Certainly,” said Lord Manton. “Goddard, go at once and arrest the murderers. You’re a policeman. It’s your business to arrest murderers. Don’t waste time. Do it.” “Who am I to arrest?” said Mr. Goddard. “I don’t know any murderers. I don’t so much as know the name of a single murderer. If I did, I’d be off after him at once.” “Who is he to arrest, Miss Blow?” said Lord Manton. “You’ll have to give him the name and address of your murderer. I suppose you know who he is and where he lives.” “Yes, I do,” said Miss Blow. “I didn’t at first, but now I do.” Wilkins entered the room as she spoke. “I beg your pardon, my lord,” he said.