'I think I just now heard you accuse Mrs. Merrett of going mad. It does seem strange that we should all of us be going mad together, and that you should be the only one to continue sane.' He turned his back on us. I saw that for some cause he was afraid of her; that she knew it; and that the knowledge stung her to the heart. 'Douglas, don't you think we'd better prick the bubble?' 'What do you mean?' 'Shall I tell you what I mean?' 'I have no desire to know. Your meaning, lately, is a puzzle to which I have no clue; nor wish for any. I have no taste for the twists and turns of a disordered brain.' 'Douglas! You didn't use to speak to me like that--before.' 'You mean before you developed your new fancy for prying into matters which are no concern of yours; and, in consequence, discovering mountains where there are not even molehills.' 'I have heard it stated that, when it comes to the sticking-point, a woman has more courage than a man; but I never dreamed, Douglas, to learn that it was true of you.' 'Fools, my dear Edith, step in where angels fear to tread.' It appeared to dawn on her more quickly than it did on him that they were beginning to talk to each other in a way which wasn't exactly dignified in the presence of a stranger. Her voice and manner both changed as she came farther into the room, holding Jimmy with one hand, and Pollie with the other. 'Come, Douglas, let's play the game. You've often said it to me; now it seems as if it were my turn to say it to you.' 'You see, Edith, it depends on what is your idea of what you call the game. Unfortunately it sometimes happens that the feminine idea is a peculiar one.' 'My idea, on the present occasion, is to be frank, honest, and above-board; to use another phrase of yours, to face the music.' 'I'm afraid the music you want to face comes from a very funny sort of band.' 'Douglas, let's stop chopping phrases, you and I. Let me introduce you to some one instead.' 'Introduce me? What do you mean?' 'Let me introduce you to the Marquis of Twickenham.' He had turned. Now he stared. I stared too. What she meant I did not understand, if he did. 'Edith! are you stark, staring mad?' 'Douglas, haven't you heard that it's a symptom of insanity to hurl at others reckless accusations of insanity. I can say to you, with Paul, I am not mad. But I am beginning to wonder if, somewhere deep down in your heart, you are not inclined to credit me with being something worse. For the second time let me ask your permission to make you known to the Marquis of Twickenham.' She held Jimmy a little forward. What she meant I still had not the faintest notion. But it was plain that Mr. Howarth had. I could see that he shook; but whether it was passion or not was more than I could say. 'Edith, you are--you are making a serious mistake. Be careful; before you do mischief which you may be never able to undo.'