This she said with something very like the stamp of her foot. She can be imperious when she chooses; as, one of these days, her husband will learn. 'I tell you what I will do; if you don't mind, I'll take a cup of tea.' 'Douglas, how can you be so frivolous, when, for all we know, we may be standing on the brink of a volcano?' 'If I were standing in the very heart of a volcano--if I could get it, I should like a cup of tea.' 'I'll give you one.' This was Edith. I took the cup she offered. Before I had a chance to sip it, Violet began at me again. 'Now, Douglas, perhaps you'll tell us.' 'Tell you what?' 'If the Marquis of Twickenham is alive.' I turned to Reggie. 'I suppose I'm indebted to you for this. Next time I have a confidential remark to make, which I wish to have shouted in the market-place, I shall know whom to address.' 'You never told me not to tell. And I haven't shouted it in the market-place; whatever you mean by that. I only told Vi.' 'Only!' Violet answered for him. 'It's no use your attacking Reggie; I made him tell. Situated as we are, there ought to be no secrets between us; between any of us. Do you mean to say that you consider that the knowledge that the Marquis of Twickenham is alive is knowledge which you are entitled to keep to yourself?' 'My dear Vi, there is no doubt that animation suits you; but I shouldn't on that account be always in a condition of explosiveness.' Her cheeks flamed. Nothing annoys her so much as being told that she's excitable. Edith laid her hand upon my arm. 'Douglas, tell me; is it true?' 'I don't know.' 'Do you mean that you don't know, or that you won't say? Have you any reason to believe that he's alive; any tangible reason?' 'As I told Reggie, and as I presume he has told you, I shall be in a better position to answer that question next week.' 'But why not now? What is it you do know? Why keep us in suspense? Is it fair? Think of what it means to all of us; of what it means to me. It has come to this--that to me it is almost a question of life or death.' I understood the allusion; it cut me to the heart. 'I tell you that I know nothing.' 'Then why did you say that last night to Reggie?' 'Because I supposed him to be possessed of a few grains of common sense.' 'But you must have had some grounds to go upon. You surely wouldn't have said a thing like that without a cause--you, of all men. Miss Sandford has never doubted that he's alive; now mother seems equally convinced; now there's you, throwing out mysterious hints. Be fair to us; make us sharers even of your suspicions.' 'Very good; I'll tell you all there is to tell, though it will only unsettle you as it unsettled me.' 'We can't be more unsettled than we are already. Anything to get out of the darkness into the light.' 'You'll still be in the darkness when you've heard all I have to say; I promise you that. I know I'm fogged enough.'