"This that you insinuate about Marshdale. I have faith in Lord Level; I like Lord Level; and I think you are misjudging him." "Oh, indeed!" responded the Major. "I suppose you know what a wild blade Level always was?" "In his early days he may have been. But you may depend upon it that when he married he left his wild ways behind him." "All right, young Charles. And, upon my word, you are pretty near as young in the world's depths as Blanche herself is," was the Major's sarcastic remark. "Do you wish to tell me there's nothing up at Marshdale, with all these mysterious telegrams to Level, and his scampers back in answer? Come!" "I admit that there seems to be some mystery at Marshdale. Something that we do not understand, and that Lord Level does not intend us to understand; but I must have further proof before I can believe it is of any such nature as you hint it, Major. For a long time past, Lord Level has appeared to me like a man in trouble; as if he had some anxiety on his mind." "Well," acquiesced the Major equably, "and what can trouble a man's mind more than the exactions of these foreign syrens? Let them be Italian, or Spanish, or French--what you will--they'll worry your life out of you in the long-run. What does that Italian girl do at Marshdale?" "I cannot say. For my own part I do not know that one is there. But if she be, if there be a whole menagerie of Italian ladies there, as you have just expressed it, Major----" "I said a menagerie of monkeys," he growled. "Monkeys, then. But whether they be monkeys or whether they be ladies, I feel convinced that Lord Level is acting no unworthy part--that he is loyal to his wife." "You had better tell her so," nodded the Major; "perhaps she'll believe you. I told her the opposite. I told her that when women marry gay and attractive men, they must look out for squalls, and learn to shut their eyes a bit in going through life. I bade her bottle up her fancies, and let Marshdale and her husband alone, and not show herself a simpleton before the public." "What did she say to that?" "Say? It was that piece of advice which raised the storm. She burst out of the room like a maniac, declaring she wouldn't remain in it to listen to me. The next thing was, I heard the street-door bang, and saw my lady go out, putting on her gloves as she went. You came up two minutes afterwards." I was buried in thought again. He stood staring at me, as if I had no business to have any thought. "Look here, Major: one thing strikes me forcibly: the very fact of Lord Level allowing these telegrams to come to him openly is enough to prove that matters are not as you and Blanche suspect. If----" "How can a telegram come secretly?" interrupted the Major. "He would take care that they did not come at all--to his house." "Oh, would he?" cried the old reprobate. "I should like to know how he could hinder it if any she-fiend chooses to send them."