Everybody, with one exception, was enjoying the fun immensely. I was the exception. It is not nice to be at the mercy of one’s intimates. But now by some mysterious means I was delivered into their hands. One can scarcely expect the average man to join in the laugh against himself in such circumstances. They were so delicate. Indeed, only rude coarse men would be capable of creating them. And to a person of sensibility, they were aggravated by the presence of Grace’s arrogant male relations. Never a doubt that they were arrogant. They, in common with the conspirators, seemed quite unable to treat me with respect. And at least I thought that that justice should be granted to me, for a man who has been awake all night feels entitled to some little consideration. “Sir Knight,” said the little parson, “I would fain remind thee that ’tis now nine-forty by this my good chronometer. Twenty minutes hence the divinity retireth.” This specific mention seemed to lend additional flavour to their chaff. They were getting up my blood. And when that is thoroughly aroused, I enjoy the character of being a somewhat headstrong person. Therefore when at a quarter to ten I discarded my cigar, finished my coffee, and quietly announced that I was going to face the music, they ought not to have been as staggered as they were. “What now?” they shouted. “_Oui, oui_,” said I, stepping to the door. “Look here,” said the alarmed Archie, “this is beyond a joke.” “By, by,” said I; “see you later.” “Look here,” said Miss Grace’s military brother, “no dam foolery, Dimsdale. Sit down and finish your cigar. Toddles, if you don’t hold your tongue I’ll choke you. This has gone too far.” “I’ll lay a ‘pony’ that Dimsdale don’t do it,” said Carteret. “Done,” said I. “You can call that ‘pony’ squandered, Jimmy,” said the Optimist, with tears of gladness in his eyes. “Isn’t it gaudy?” said the little parson rapturously. “Isn’t it ger-lor-i-ous?” But even at this late hour I don’t think any of them quite realized the finality of my resolve. For when I got so far as to open the door, they were one and all so thunderstruck that they could not say a word. It was only when with an assumption of bravado that I flippantly commended myself to their prayers, and walked out of the room, that they set up a positive howl of laughter. I am not sure, though, whether it was not rather hollow. As for myself, I might have a dim consciousness that my folly was colossal, yet this in no wise deterred me. If I am at any time goaded into action, no matter how indefinite its nature, it is no part of my character to stop halfway; therefore it was in a devil-may-care, hands-in-the-pockets, two-o’clock-in-the-morning fashion that I sauntered into the library, incredibly impudent of mien. CHAPTER XV Facing the Music MISS GRACE was seated at the table under the lamp, and I was a trifle discomfited to find that a very palpable frown was disfiguring her mobile brow.