"She's crazy about O'Neil."
"Seems to be, for a fact, but that doesn't alter my fix. I can't live this way. You must help me or I'll lose my reason."
"Nonsense! You haven't any or you wouldn't talk like this. What can I do?"
"It's simple! Be nice to Murray and—and win him away from her."
Eliza stared at him as though she really believed him daft. Then she said, mockingly:
"Is that all? Just make him love me?"
Dan nodded. "That would be fine, if you could manage it."
"Why—you—you—I—" She gasped uncertainly for terms in which to voice her indignant surprise. "Idiot!" she finally exclaimed.
"Thanks for such glowing praise," Dan said, forlornly. "I feel a lot worse than an idiot. An idiot is not necessarily evil; at heart he may be likable, and pathetic, and merely unfortunate—"
"You simply can't be in earnest!"