Massington, either directly or by implication, that you and I are you and I, not we—that—just that.'
' Quite so,' he said, ' and very neatly put.'
She sat up.
' I refuse,' she said.
' Why? For what possible reason?'
' For a reason you couldn't appreciate.'
' Let me try.'
' I can't explain it even. But the outline is this: I respect and like Sybil Massington, therefore I will not assist you to marry her. It is not my business to open her eyes—you may marry her if you can—but neither is it my business to close them. Even if you wished it, I would not marry you myself, because I don't think you would be a—well, a satisfactory husband. So I will not help you.'
Bilton's face was clearly given him to conceal his thoughts. On this occasion it expressed nothing whatever, though he thought a good deal.
' You want to stand in my light, then,' he said.
' Not at all, only I won't hold the candle for you.'
' You refuse to tell the truth to Mrs. Massington; you refuse to tell her what you know—namely, that I came to your room last night merely to congratulate you on your success?'
' I refuse to tell her a fag-end of the truth like that—a truth that is designed to deceive.'
His eye wandered round the room before he replied, and in its course fell on the grate. To-day also there was a torn letter lying in it. A slight tinge of colour came into his face.
' I can't understand you,' he said. ' As far as I know, you on the whole wish me well; you have assured me that you would not marry me yourself. What do you want, then? Do you want to be paid for doing it? If you are not unreasonable in your demands, I will meet them.'
She got up, her eyes blazing.
