THE VOICE: I was very ill, in Ceylon. And then one night, when I was better, I was wandering about the veranda of my friend’s station, and I happened to hear the whirr of the P. and O. from Colombo to England. It was very distant, four miles away at least, but the night was very, very still, and I not only heard the whirr but above it a twitter--a tinkling something--a very faint, long-drawn silly something, which could only be the music of the liner’s orchestra---- SHELMERDENE: Yes? I am listening. THE VOICE: That is what I heard, Shelmerdene, and it somehow made me see things very far away. I, who had been abroad so long, saw England. Funny, wasn’t it? And I saw _you_--I saw you dancing, Shelmerdene! I saw you dancing as I last saw you, dancing very gaily and subtly through the maze of the Avalon’s ballroom, and smiling up into your partner’s face. How well you danced, Shelmerdene! Do you still dance so well? SHELMERDENE: Dancing changes. THE VOICE: Of course. And men and women die. SHELMERDENE: But dancing is the only thing that changes. THE VOICE: But I was telling you of my vision, that night in Ceylon. And in my vision, you somehow looked like a greyhound---- Hallo, hallo! What is it? SHELMERDENE: Nothing, nothing! Go on. THE VOICE: But there is no more, Shelmerdene! I came home. Now tell me a little about yourself--about the only man you’ve ever really loved! Did you say he was your husband? SHELMERDENE: He _is_ my husband. THE VOICE: Really! In spite of everything, you mean? Now, tell me, Shelmerdene---- SHELMERDENE: You mock. I will not tell you anything, because you mock. Yes, you are hard, and you mock. I made a mistake when I said that you had the voice of a man I dined with once. You have the voice of a man who has played with many women---- THE VOICE: Simply because I loved one unhappily! And you, Shelmerdene--and _you_! Why, I can see the whole procession of your past, the long, long procession of the men who have loved you, the men you have touched! Oh, my God! SHELMERDENE: Silence, silence, silence! What I have done I have done because I wanted the world, but you have done it because you wanted revenge. What I have done I have done because I have too much heart, but you have done it because you have no heart. Through the telephone I can hear that you have no heart, and I can see the hole where your heart should be. My life has made me sad, but yours has made you bitter--oh, why, why? THE VOICE: Heavens, how do I know! I am as God made me---- SHELMERDENE: No, no! You are much worse! THE VOICE: Then I am as you made me. SHELMERDENE: That is why my eyes are wet. THE VOICE: Come, come, Shelmerdene, don’t be silly! We ran amok, that’s all---- SHELMERDENE: That’s all! I did not think I would live to see my own tragedy fulfilled--but I see it fulfilled in you! Isn’t that strange?