Rebb struck his hand fiercely on the table. "You go too far, Haskins, in saying that. I am not forced to account for my actions to you." "You may not think so," said Gerald, feeling that they were coming to close quarters, "but I do. I love Mavis, and wish to marry her." "It is out of the question." "Why?" "She is--as I declare--insane. If you married her, she would probably murder you in your sleep." "I am willing to take the risk," said Haskins, with a contemptuous smile. He saw that Rebb was trying to make the best of his position. "I am not willing that you should," retorted the Major. "Ah! but the decision lies with me. Mrs. Crosbie----" Rebb looked furious. "What has Mrs. Crosbie to do with this matter?" "Has she not told you?" "Told me what? I have heard nothing from Mrs. Crosbie." Gerald privately apologized to himself for having doubted the little woman, but determined to have no further misunderstanding. He spoke out. "I saw Mrs. Crosbie when I was in London, and asked her to help me to marry Mavis." "Not even for Mrs. Crosbie's sake can I consent to that. A marriage of that kind would be a sin. How dare you tell my private affairs to my future wife?" And Rebb again struck the table. "Gently, Major, gently! I am not to be intimidated. I asked Mrs. Crosbie to help me, as she is my mother's old friend, and I have known her much longer than you have. She refused to help me." "Ah!" cried Rebb, gratified. "I knew that she loved me." "But she agreed to keep what I had told her a secret from you, for at least a month, on condition that I took no steps meanwhile to run away with Mavis. From what you say, I understand that she has kept her promise, and I have done her an injustice. I fancied, from your sudden departure to this place, that she had told you." "Mrs. Crosbie has told me nothing," said Rebb coldly. "I came down here because I heard that Bellaria had been up to see me. Also I had a line from Geary saying that something was wrong. I came down at once, and was informed that you had been spying out my private affairs." "Don't call hard names, Major," said Gerald coolly. "I admit that I was wrong to speak to Mrs. Crosbie, seeing that she is engaged to you. But I am putting that right by coming here for an explanation, and I absolve Mrs. Crosbie from her promise. But I was not wrong in obeying the invitation of the sealed message. Any young man in my position would have done the same." "Ah, the cylinder!" cried Rebb angrily, "Bellaria told me of that, as Mavis confessed to her what she had done. Who would have thought that the girl would have communicated with the world in that way?" "Why should she not communicate with the world?" asked Gerald sharply. Rebb saw that in his hurry he had made a mistake, and tried to get out of it. "Why? Because she is crazy!" "And for that reason she has not been taught to read or write?"