"I suppose that the Condy's Fluid and the paraffin oil were--?" "Means to the same end," said Meldon. "They were kindly meant. If they caused you any serious inconvenience--" "They did." "Then I apologise, frankly and unreservedly. The fact is, I acted under a complete misapprehension. If I had known then what I know now I should have welcomed you, and done my best to make your stay here pleasant. That's what I intend to do now; so if any one annoys you in the slightest just let me know, and I'll put a stop to the performance at once." "Thanks; and now perhaps, as we've gone so far, you'll satisfy my curiosity a little further by explaining why you object to my presence here." "I don't object to it in the least. I did once, as I said; but I don't now." "What has happened to change your views?" "Now that is a question I can hardly answer without going into some very private and delicate matters which I am sure you would not care to discuss. It wouldn't be pleasant for you if I talked about them. You'd be sorry afterwards." "Would my peace of mind be affected?" "Seriously. That's the reason I won't go into the matter." "All the same," said the judge, "I think I'll hazard a guess about it. Are these mysterious affairs you allude to in any way connected with Miss King?" "I see," said Meldon, "that you've been talking it all over with her, and that's she given you a hint, so I need say no more." "Miss King's only idea," said the judge, "is that you think I'm likely to make myself objectionable in some way about the fishing. It appears that there has been a dispute--" "That miserable business between Simpkins and the Major. I know all about that, and I may say at once that it had nothing whatever to do with my attempt to keep you out of Ballymoy." "I thought not. I merely mentioned it to show you that my niece is quite in the dark about your real reason, and that I got no hint from her." "She may not be quite as much in the dark," said Meldon, "as she pretends when she's talking to you. The subject would naturally be an awkward one for her to discuss. It's awkward enough for us. I think we'd better drop it at once." "I suppose," said the judge boldly, "that your friend thought he'd have a better chance if I were not here to interfere with him." "I don't like that way of putting the case," said Meldon. "Why not say that Miss King would have had a better chance?" "Considering that Miss King is my niece," said the judge, "you will understand that I rather object to your way of putting it. It's scarcely respectful to her. Whatever the facts may be in any particular case, there's a well-established convention in these matters. We don't, any of us, talk as if it were the lady who is, so to speak, the aggressor." "I see your point, though in this particular case I can't help feeling-- But why should we go on? It's far better to drop the subject."