"Bundle, darling--Oh, dearest, darling Bundle. Oh, my dear love. Oh, Bundle--Bundle. What shall I do? Oh, darling one--my Bundle--my own dearest, sweetest Bundle. Oh, God, what shall I do? I've killed her. I've killed her." Reluctantly--very reluctantly--Bundle spoke. "No, you haven't, you silly idiot," she said. Bill gave a gasp of utter amazement. "Bundle--you're alive?" "Of course I'm alive." "How long have you been--I mean when did you come to?" "About five minutes ago." "Why didn't you open your eyes--or say something?" "Didn't want to. I was enjoying myself." "Enjoying yourself?" "Yes. Listening to all the things you were saying. You'll never say them so well again. You'll be too beastly self-conscious." Bill had turned a dark brick-red. "Bundle--you really didn't mind? You know, I _do_ love you so. I have for ages. But I never have dared tell you so." "You silly juggins," said Bundle. "Why?" "I thought you'd only laugh at me. I mean--you've got brains and all that--you'll marry some bigwig." "Like George Lomax?" suggested Bundle. "I don't mean a fatuous ass like Codders. But some really fine chap who'll be worthy of you--though I don't think anyone could be that," ended Bill. "You're rather a dear, Bill." "But, Bundle, seriously, could you ever? I mean, could you ever bring yourself to?" "Could I ever bring myself to do what?" "Marry me. I know I'm awfully thick-headed--but I do love you, Bundle. I'd be your dog or your slave or your anything." "You're very like a dog," said Bundle. "I like dogs. They're so friendly and faithful and warmhearted. I think that perhaps I could just bring myself to marry you, Bill--with a great effort, you know." Bill's response to this was to relinquish his grasp of her and recoil violently. He looked at her with amazement in his eyes. "Bundle--you don't mean it?" "There's nothing for it," said Bundle. "I see I shall have to relapse into unconsciousness again." "Bundle--darling--" Bill caught her to him. He was trembling violently. "Bundle--do you really mean it--do you?--you don't know how much I love you." "Oh, Bill," said Bundle. There is no need to describe in detail the conversation of the next ten minutes. It consisted mostly of repetitions. "And do you really love me," said Bill, incredulously, for the twentieth time as he at last released her. "Yes--yes--yes. Now do let's be sensible. I've got a racking head still, and I've been nearly squeezed to death by you. I want to get the hang of things. Where are we and what's happened?" For the first time, Bundle began to take stock of her surroundings. They were in the secret room, she noted, and the baize door was closed and presumably locked. They were prisoners, then! Bundle's eyes came back to Bill. Quite oblivious of her question he was watching her with adoring eyes. "Bill, darling," said Bundle, "pull yourself together. We've got to get out of here."