"Nothing. It's driving at nothing. It is simply that I do not wish to play."
"And why not?" He suddenly rose, his great body towering above the other's. "Why not? By God, I'll have an answer!"
"There is no answer."
"No answer? We'll see about that. Who's been lying to you about me? Who's been carrying scandals about me? Out with it!—out with it!"
Then unexpectedly Milbanke's trepidation forsook him. He suddenly straightened himself.
"No one," he answered.
"No one? Are you quite sure?"
"No-one!"
"Then what do you mean by this? What do you mean by meddling in my affairs?"
He took a menacing step forward.