'I don't think I could bear it about you,' she said. 'Threaten him if you like. Get back your money if you can. But not that, Bertie.'
'It shall be as you wish.'
'Do you want to very much?'
'I see red when I think of him,' said he.
'Ah, don't, don't!' she said.
She was silent a moment.
'One thing more, then,' he said. 'I want to show you the letter. I want you to know all. I have brought it here. Will you read it?'
'Yes, if you wish,' she said.
She took it from him, and went over to the brighter light of the dressing-table to read it by. It was long, and it took her some minutes, and in those minutes she learned for the first time what a man's love could be, and she envied with a sense of passionate longing the woman to whom it was written. That was the fire he had spoken of. When she had finished she gave it back to him.
'I have read it all,' she said. 'Poor Bertie! You suffered.'